BIMSTEC meeting outcomes 2024

 The intent of BIMSTEC member states to push forth with a bold vision for the region was evident at the 2nd Foreign Ministers’ Retreat

WHY IN NEWS ? 

1 India hosted the 2nd BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) .

2  with a focus on providing an “informal platform to discuss ways and means of cooperating and accelerating action in 

• security, 
• connectivity, 
• trade, and 
• investment within the Bay of Bengal.”

ABOUT BIMSTEC

• The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising of 7 member states which are in the littoral and adjacent areas of Bay of Bengal, thus constituting a contiguous regional unity.
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• Formation: Formed in 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.
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• It was initially formed with 4 member states (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand). Myanmar became a member in 1997, followed by Nepal and Bhutan in 2004.
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• BIMSTEC has celebrated 20 years of its formation in 2017.

EXPECTATION FROM MEETINGS 

The retreat was held in preparation for the sixth summit meeting, scheduled for September, in which the BIMSTEC leaders will meet in person for the first time in the post-pandemic era. 

They are also expected to sign the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation to improve regional connectivity — a foundational aim of this grouping.

Strengthening ties with eastern neighbours

BIMSTEC 

1 IT is the regional organisation devoted to the Bay of Bengal, with a membership of five South Asian and two Southeast Asian countries, cooperating across seven diverse sectors. 

2 It allows New Delhi to engage multilaterally with the other countries of the Bay of Bengal region, which are 

• its eastern neighbours and
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•  therefore vital for its economic development, security, and foreign policy imperatives. 

3 China’s growing presence in the Bay of Bengal  

India WANTS  solidifying relations with its eastern neighbours as China’s growing presence in the Bay of Bengal poses a potential threat to regional stability and New Delhi’s position as a preferred security partner in these waters.

4 landlocked north-eastern region with access to the sea 

Strengthening ties with Bangladesh and Myanmar accords India the advantage of providing its landlocked north-eastern region with access to the sea.

 Improved ties with Myanmar and Thailand 

will also lend India the opportunity to have a more profound presence in the Indo-Pacific,

 as it holds the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations), in which these two countries are members, to be of central importance in its vision of the Indo-Pacific. 

Thailand reinforced this idea at the retreat by identifying itself as a bridge between BIMSTEC and ASEAN. 

Two parts of the retreat

The retreat was divided into two parts

FIRST SEGMENT

 1 participants assessed the 

• current state of regional cooperation within BIMSTEC,
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•  building on a presentation by India on the implementation of key outcomes of the 1st Retreat.

 2 Multiple ideas sharing -  including the 

• establishment of Centers of Excellence in member states,
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•  focusing on Agriculture, Disaster Management, and Maritime Transport. 

3 India announced support for - 

• cancer research, treatment, and 
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• issuance of e-visas for patients of all BIMSTEC states,
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4  while Sri Lanka proposed  - the inclusion of kidney disease. 

5 some highlighted areas 

The need for involving the private sector in trade and promoting young entrepreneurs was also highlighted, as was the importance of connectivity, cyber-security, and countering the trafficking of narcotics and illegal arms.

SECOND SESSION 

Sri Lanka underscored 

1 the need to map mineral resources found in abundance in the BIMSTEC countries 

2 and create opportunities for the vertical integration of stages of production within specific sectors in the economies of the countries, enabling them to diversify their production structure. 

Bangladesh highlighted the need for cooperation in the Blue Economy

and urged member states to ban fishing during the breeding season to address the problem of depleting catch in the Bay.

 Bhutan collaboration in tourism - 

and cultural exchanges, while 

Nepal highlighted 

its ‘whole of the region’ approach to leverage synergies among member states and transform BIMSTEC into a results-oriented regional forum. 

Thailand underscored 

the need for cooperation in non-traditional security domains, and 

Myanmar added the 

need to combat online scamming to the list. These proposals will be presented to the heads of state before the September summit.

Bilateral merits

INDIA NAD MYANMAR 

Mr. Jaishankar met several of his counterparts on the sidelines. 

He shared with Myanmar India’s concerns over the flow of displaced persons, narcotics, and arms across the border and urged for the return of unlawfully detained Indians.

INDIA - Bangladesh

 

who requested him to ensure the smooth supply of daily essentials and send a technical team for the Teesta project

WAY FORWARD 

This year marks a decade of India’s Act East and Neighbourhood First policies,

 and the thrust on BIMSTEC is a manifestation of New Delhi’s efforts to continue nurturing collaborative growth for national and regional well-being. 

Thus, Mr. Jaishankar encouraged future collaborations through new energies, resources, and a renewed commitment to cooperation.

It remains to be seen how many of these proposals find culmination at the forthcoming Summit but the intent of the member states to push forth with a bold vision for the region was clearly evident at the retreat.

Source the hindu