In order to promote trade and investment among SAARC countries, FICCI has formed SAARC Division to harness the tremendous potential of trade and investment that exist between SAARC member countries and to help the business community of India & other SAARC countries towards strengthening business partnership.

FICCI is the only nodal body in India representing trade and industry on the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

SCCI was formed in 1994 and was officially recognized as the apex Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the SAARC region by the SAARC Secretariat. Our biggest advantage is that we are the only national federation representing the interest of Indian business in SCCI. FICCI played a major role in the formation of the SCCI.

Our Mandate

• Develop economic cooperation among members of business community in the SAARC countries.
• Facilitate trade between India and SAARC member countries on both bilateral and regional basis.
• Assist members to focus on SAARC region for building and strengthening trade and investment partnership relating to all business areas.
• Work as a consultative body to provide inputs to the government in formulating various trade, investment and visa policies for the SAARC countries.
• Assist the government in formulating favourable trade, investment and other business related policies for the SAARC countries and help in resolving various bottlenecks to trade such as tariff and non-tariff barriers.
• Recommend visa facilities for members to travel to SAARC countries.
• Organise trade fairs & exhibitions, seminars, workshops and publicity campaigns to make the members aware of SAARC related matters.
• Provide business information to members and vice versa with special reference to SAARC countries.

FICCI also interact bilaterally and has a MoU with the various apex chamber of commerce within SAARC in promoting economic partnership of Indian businessmen with the SAARC countries, namely:

• Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) (to be formally inducted in SCCI)
• Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI)
• Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI)
• Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI)
• Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI)
• Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI)
• Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL)

The SAARC Division has initiated many business activities regionally as well as bilaterally towards trade liberalisation through semminars, conferences, exhibitions and business conclaves.

Opportunities to our members

SAARC Division has formed FICCI SAARC Forum. The members of this forum are helped in establishing business contacts through liaisoning with apex chambers in the SAARC countries. The members of the forum are invited to participate in all business delegations to the SAARC countries organized by FICCI or SCCI. During these visits, meetings with Ministers, businessmen and senior Government officials are arranged which is beneficial in promoting business interest of our members.

FICCI, as an apex chamber is consulted by Government of India and many Government agencies to provide its inputs in formulating various trade, investment, visa and other policies for the SAARC countries. In FICCI, we are guided by the considered views of the members of FICCI SAARC Forum

Who can be our member:

Any corporate entity, business association or an individual having active business interest in SAARC member countries desirous of exploring business opportunities in the SAARC region.

Membership form

Publications/ Occasional papers /Reports

• Status paper on India-Pakistan Economic Relations
• Status paper on India-Bangladesh Economic Relations
• FICCI Survey on India–Pakistan Trade (March, 2009)
• FICCI Survey on Indian Investments in Nepal (May, 2009)