Thimphu Bhutan, 8 December 2020 – The SAARC Development Fund (SDF) celebrated the 36th SAARC Charter Day in Thimphu Bhutan with partners on 8 December 2020.

The SAARC Charter establishing South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was adopted on 8 December 1985 by the SAARC Heads of State/Government during their first-ever Summit in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The SAARC Charter recognizes the region’s shared history and the determination of the SAARC Member States - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - to foster mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation for peace and prosperity.  

The SAARC Charter Day celebration in 2020 brought together Hon’ble Ministers, high-ranking government officials, resident Ambassadors, heads of international organizations, civil society representatives and implementing agencies of SDF funded projects for an evening of music and food from the eight SAARC Member States, and an advocacy event around 10 years of SDF.

Hon’ble Finance Minister of Bhutan Lyonpo Namgay Tshering, who is also a SDF Governing Council Member, was the Chief Guest. The Foreign and Agriculture Ministers of Bhutan were also present at the event.

Hon’ble Finance Minister Lyonpo Namgay Tshering, who is also SDF Governing Council Member, said: “Bhutan, as a founding member of SAARC and a country that deeply values its membership to the Association, we have always strived to participate and contribute to the SAARC process to the best of our abilities.” The vision of SAARC is to foster cooperation among the countries and to work towards prosperity and wellbeing of the people, and all the eight SAARC countries have been working hard towards this vision, Lyonpo said.