India hosts BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers amid raging Myanmar crisis

The Hind: Page 04

Syllabus: GS 2: International Relations

Practice Question for Mains: Examine the role of BIMSTEC in fostering regional cooperation and connectivity between South and Southeast Asia. How does it align with India’s strategic interests? Discuss the challenges faced by BIMSTEC and suggest measures to enhance its relevance and effectiveness. 

India hosted the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ meeting amidst the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, marked by military rule and internal conflict since the 2021 coup.

•  The gathering aimed to address regional cooperation and stability, emphasising India’s strategic role in fostering dialogue among Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) members.

About the News

•   India has urged the BIMSTEC group to bring new energy, resources, and commitment to enhance cooperation among its member countries.
•  This call was made by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during a two-day retreat with his counterparts from the seven BIMSTEC nations: India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan.
•   Discussions on the first day included topics such as connectivity, trade and business collaboration, health and space cooperation, digital public infrastructure, capacity building, and societal exchanges.
•  Jaishankar emphasized that BIMSTEC aligns with India’s 'Neighbourhood First' policy, 'Act East Policy,' and 'SAGAR' vision, focusing on the Bay of Bengal region.
•  He highlighted the need to realize the collaborative potential of the region and conveyed a strong message of determination to enhance cooperation among the member countries.

About Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC):

•   Full Name: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
•   Established: 1997.
•   Member Countries: 07 members

o  Five are from South Asia –

1.    Bangladesh

2.    Bhutan

3.    India

4.    Nepal

5.    Sri Lanka

o  Two are from Southeast Asia –

1.    Myanmar

2.    Thailand

•  Objective: Promote regional cooperation, economic growth, and development.
•   Headquarters: Dhaka, Bangladesh.
•   Key Sectors of Cooperation: Trade and investment, technology, energy, transport and communication, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, public health, poverty alleviation, counter-terrorism, environment, culture, and people-to-people contact.

Significance:

o  Bridges South and Southeast Asia.

o  Enhances regional connectivity.

o  Facilitates economic integration and cooperation.

Recent Focus

o  Combating terrorism and transnational crime.

o  Enhancing connectivity and trade.

o  Addressing climate change and disaster management.

Strategic Importance: Enhances India’s Act East Policy and strengthens ties with Southeast Asian nations.

Principles of BIMSTEC

•   Sovereign Equality
•   Territorial Integrity
•   Political Independence
•   No-interference in Internal Affairs
•   Peaceful Co- existence
•   Mutual Benefit
•   Constitute an addition to and not be a substitute for bilateral, regional or multilateral cooperation involving the Member States.

Key Areas of Cooperation within BIMSTEC

•   Trade and Investment
•  Technology
•  Energy
•   Transportation and Communication
•   Tourism
•   Fisheries
•   Agriculture
•  Cultural Cooperation
•   Environment and Disaster Management
•  Public Health
•   People-to-People Contact
•   Poverty Alleviation
•  Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime
•  Climate Change

Analysis

The Bay of Bengal region, was one of the world’s most integrated regions until the early twentieth century, according to a 2020 research paper by Constantino Xavier and Riya Sinha for the Vivekananda International Foundation. But after the 1940s, when members of the region became independent and pursued separate goals and alliance systems, “the region’s sense of community has almost completely eroded.”

So, the aim of setting up the regional grouping was not to create a new region for cooperation but to revive the connectivity and common interests of the members of the Bay of Bengal region. BIMSTEC’s first Secretary General, Sumith Nakandala, echoed this when he had said, “we are not reinventing the wheel” but just “rediscovering the common heritage around the Bay of Bengal.”

According to the official website of BIMSTEC, “the regional group constitutes a bridge between South and South East Asia and represents a reinforcement of relations among these countries.”