SAARC Agricultural Information Centre (SAIC), Dhaka
SAIC, the first regional institution was established in Dhaka in 1988. SAIC serves to network relevant national information Centres in Member States with a view to exchanging regionally generated technical information to strengthen agricultural research and development activities. SAIC has brought out several publications, which contain information on agricultural institutions in SAARC countries as well as on fisheries, forestry, livestock and crops.

The publications completed by SAIC include: Directory of Agricultural Institutions, Directory of Agricultural Scientists and Technologists and Agricultural Periodicals of the SAARC Countries. It also completed a Bibliography of Women in Agriculture; and a Bibliography of Agro-forestry in the SAARC Region. It maintains databases respectively on Fish Diseases and on Potato Cultivation in the SAARC Region. It also publishes quarterly newsletter highlighting its activities.

The Seventeenth Meeting of the Governing Board held in Dhaka on 19-21 October 2003 reviewed, inter alia, status of implementation of the decisions of its Sixteenth Meeting, completed programmes of 2002 and 2003 as well as current and ongoing programmes for the financial year 2004. The Board prioritized new programmes for 2004 for implementation in case of delay in the approval of its report, which are

(i)    Workshop on "Attempts and Successes of ICT Roadmap to Villages in the SAARC countries";
(ii)   Continuing Professional Development Program;
(iii)  Guide on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (GMAP);
(iv)  A Hand book on Disease of Fishes and Crustaceans in the SAARC Region; and
(v)   Production of Interactive Multi Media CDs (IMM CDROMs). It also prioritized the programme “SAICNet”, which will be taken up during 2005.

The Eighteenth Meeting of the Governing Board of SAIC is scheduled to be held on 3-5 October 2004 in Dhaka to be followed by the Workshop on “Attempts and Success of ICT Roadmap to Villages in the SAARC Countries on 6-8 October 2004 at SAIC, Dhaka.

For more information, please visit its website at http://www.saic-dhaka.org


SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC), Dhaka
The SMRC was inaugurated on 2 January 1995 in Dhaka. The Centre concentrates primarily on the research aspects of weather forecasting and monitoring. In addition to monitoring weather phenomena, the Centre is also engaged in developing a networking system among Member States.

The Centre's ongoing activities include collating data from national meteorological services and other up-to-date climatological information for the compilation of a Directory of Meteorological Professionals and Technicians in South Asia; bringing out newsletters regarding its programmes; and collating required meteorological data from sources outside the region for its research programmes.

The eighth meeting of the Governing Board of SMRC took place in Dhaka in October 2002.

For more information, please visit its website at http://www.saarc-smrc.org


SAARC Tuberculosis Centre (STC), Kathmandu
The STC was set up in 1992 in Kathmandu. The main objective of the STC is to work towards the prevention and control of TB in the region by coordinating the efforts of the National TB Programmes of Member States.

It serves as a Regional Coordination Centre for National Tuberculosis Control Programmes in the region and functions as a centre for information exchange and related activities by collecting, collating, analysing and disseminating all relevant information regarding the latest developments and findings in the field of tuberculosis in the region and elsewhere. It is also working to establish a networking arrangement among the National Tuberculosis Programmes. Among its objectives are to initiate, undertake and coordinate research and training in technical, biomedical, operational and other aspects related to tuberculosis control programmes in the region; to ensure adequate supply at low cost of anti-tuberculosis drugs and other related supplies in all the Member States; to monitor incidence, prevalence and emergence of drug resistant strains of tuberculosis in the region; to promote action on issues relating to HIV related tuberculosis in the SAARC region; and to carry out any other functions related to tuberculosis at the directive of the Technical Committee on Social Development.

A project proposal for the enhancement of the STC's capacity to deal with HIV/AIDS related tuberculosis under the SAARC-CIDA Memorandum of Understanding has been prepared and a Regional Strategy on TB and HIV/AIDS Control is being formulated.

The STC has developed a format for collection of information related to tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS from SAARC Member States. The Centre also publishes a newsletter twice a /ear which includes its activities, special articles and technical information on TB.

The STC has been organising seminars, workshops, and training programmes related to TB control. Experts and TB Programme Managers are kept informed about recent developments in the field of TB control in and around the region, including information from W.H.O.

The Centre also organizes meetings of National TB Programme Managers of Member States to discuss the problems faced during implementation of programmes.

For more information, please visit its website at http://www.saarctb.com.np


SAARC Documentation Centre (SDC), New Delhi
The SDC established in New Delhi in May 1994 fulfills the need for ready access to information on SAARC and its member countries. At present it focuses on data in Member States and international databases in the areas of biological, physical, chemical, engineering and life sciences as well as in development matters. The Centre undertakes several workshops, seminars, and training courses in the fields of library science and information technology. A two-year Master Degree Course on "Associateship in Information Science" has also been included in its regular activities.

For more information, please visit its website at http://www.sdc.gov.in


SAARC Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC), Islamabad
The SAARC Human Resources Development Centre (SHRDC) has been established in Islamabad with an objective to undertake research, training and dissemination of information on human resources development issues. At its second meeting, the Governing Board finalised the terms of reference, budget/programme of activities, administrative/financial rules and other functional aspects of the Centre. The third meeting, which was held in Islamabad in October 2002, proposed its programme budget along with institutional cost. This meeting also identified for the first time programme activities to be undertaken during the year 2003. These activities include: development of a database in the areas of education, health, gender, poverty, children and environment; preparation of a directory of HRD institutions in SAARC countries; development of a SHRDC website; publication of a SHRDC newsletter; and holding of a training programme on poverty alleviation.

For more information, please visit its website at http://www.shrdc-isb.org.pk


SAARC Information Centre (SIC), Nepal
The SAARC Information Centre is a new addition to the Regional Centres and has recently been approved by the SAARC bodies. The first meeting of the Governing Board of the Centre will be held during this year in Kathmandu.

The SAARC Plan of Action on Media and Information adopted by the Information Ministers at their first meeting in Dhaka in 1998 calls for the establishment of a SAARC Information Centre. This was approved by the Tenth Summit. The successive meetings of various SAARC bodies have given due emphasis on the subject. In this context, while appreciating the SAARC Secretariat's efforts for dissemination of information on SAARC and taking note of the existing mechanisms for publicity and projection of SAARC activities within and outside the region, the SAARC Information Ministers at their second meeting urged the establishment of a SAARC Information Center with a view to reaching to a wider audience in an effective manner.

Pursuant to the above directives, the Second Meeting of the Heads of TV and Radio Organisations decided to hold an Expert Group Meeting in Pakistan in mid-2003 to work out the technical details of the proposed Centre. The Expert Group Meeting identified the objectives, scope and functioning details of the Centre. Accordingly, establishment of the SAARC Information Centre in Nepal was approved by the Council of Ministers at its Twenty-fourth session held in Islamabad in January 2004. At the initial stage, the Centre would consist of production, research and training units.