Shri A. N. Raman, a Central Council Member of The Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India (ICWAI), functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, has taken over as the President, South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA), with effect from January, 2011. He was elected yesterday in the 72nd meeting of the General Assembly of SAFA held at Chennai. The meeting was attended by the representatives of eight of the nine Accounting Institutions from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Shri Raman was the Vice President of SAFA during last year. Shri Muhammad Rafi of Pakistan has been nominated as Vice President of the Federation for the year 2011.

SAFA was established in 1984 by accounting institutions from the SAARC member countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to cater to the region specific requirements as a facilitator for economic development. SAFA represents more than one fourth of the total accounting professionals in the World. 

Shri Raman, a practicing Cost Accountant, is widely travelled all over the world for professional assignments and is a Fellow member of both ICWAI and ICAI besides being member of various international accounting bodies including a Committee of International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).  Accounting federation presidency: ICWAI's A. N. Raman appointed SAFA President enhancing regional accounting leadership representation. Appointment of A. N. Raman as President of the South Asian Federation of Accountants took effect in January 2011 following his election at the 72nd General Assembly; Muhammad Rafi was nominated as Vice President for 2011. The change reflects a routine governance transition by Assembly election and nomination, with the President's professional credentials and international committee participation noted as relevant to his federation leadership role.