The South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (Saarc) will be 20 years old early next year, and its 20th birth anniversary will be the focal point of all functions which will be held during Dhaka summit in January 2005.
The Association was set up in 1985 and its major achievement of its life will be the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (Safta).
Some participants of the ongoing Ministerial Council meeting feel that the January summit and launching of the Safta will start a "new cycle of summits" for follow-up work and also ensure the smooth running of the Pact.
This main treaty will be followed by a number of actions in the field of customs, tariffs and transport operations.