BIMSTEC and Northeast

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) has grown into important subregional grouping for multilateral cooperation between seven member countries with coastline along the Bay of Bengal. India being a part of the 17th BIMSTEC meet scheduled to be held virtually on April 1 assumes significance for the north-eastern states. It includes seven countries – five in south Asia- India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka and two from Southeast Asia – Myanmar and Thailand. According to BIMSTEC data, the region is home to around 1.5 billion people which constitute around 22% of the global population with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of 2.7 trillion economy. In the last five years, BIMSTEC Member States have been able to sustain an average 6.5% economic growth trajectory despite global financial meltdown, according to official information. The subregional grouping gaining importance can be attributed to gradual decline of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) as a subregional grouping in the Asian geo-political space. When BIMSTEC, headquartered at Dhaka, was formed on June 6, 1997 there were six sectors - trade, technology, energy, transport, tourism and fisheries for mutual cooperation among member countries. The number of sectors subsequently increased with expansion of cooperation in agriculture, public health, poverty alleviation, counterterrorism, environment, culture, people-to-people contact and climate change. The objective of formation of BIMSTEC was to utilize the geographical advantage and regional resources to strengthen mutual cooperation in various sectors to withstand and overcome of the challenges of globalization. With recent inauguration of the bridge over the river Feni flowing along India-Bangladesh border connecting Sabroom in Tripura, the northeast region has now easy access to seaports in Bangladesh. The Chittagong port is just 72 km off bridge. With the BIMSTEC Member States having finalized a Master Plan for Transport Connectivity with a vision to promote seamless connectivity between and across the member countries through the use of different transport modes, a wind of opportunities has been opened for the north-eastern states to achieve enhanced transport and trade linkages for the export market. Under the Master Plan 267 projects of construction, expansion and modernization of transport infrastructure have been identified of which 137 projects have been identified to enhance connectivity in the Bay of Bengal region. The transport connectivity plan is expected to gather momentum after it is adopted in the upcoming BIMSTEC ministerial meeting on April 1. Successful execution of these projects will ensure seamless connectivity in this Asian subregion. The Secretary General of BIMSTEC at the inaugural of the Bay of the Bengal Economic Dialogue 2021 expressed optimism that the member countries "will come to a consensus and agree ontrade facilitation measures, including, simplification of customs procedures, introduction of electronic tracking system for cross-border container movement, acceptance of electronic copies of export-import related documents, and expand e-commerce." He also impressed on early finalization of Trade in Goods Agreement, Coastal Shipping Agreement to promote greater cooperation in the BIMSTEC region and hoped that it would be - a game changer for the region. North-eastern states sharing international borders with four of these seven member countries- Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar- is on the cusp of scripting an unprecedented growth story benefiting from the sectoral cooperation among BIMSTEC countries. Troubled situation in Myanmar is an area of concern and India has a huge diplomatic challenge of handling the issues of providing shelter to people from the neighbouring country and balancing the long-term goal of BIMSTEC that requires cooperation from all member countries. BIMSTEC also enlarges the scope of Act East Policy with its two members Myanmar and Thailand being key ASEAN countries India seeks to engage in bilateral and multilateral cooperation under the Act East Policy. Northeast region lies at the centre of the Act East Policy and leveraging the BIMSTEC cooperation is an added advantage for the landlocked states in the region. Moving Northeast region along the BIMSTEC and ASEAN growth trajectories, however, depends on the ability of the governments, policy makers, and people in these states to visualise the enormous possibilities from such multilateral engagements. Expediting connectivity and other development projects is crucial. The states in the region need to focus on capacity building to complete projects on time and also undertake global projects to bolster confidence among key stakeholders in the BIMSTEC and ASEAN countries to engage in multiple sectors mutually beneficial to all. Being a biodiversity hotspot and culturally rich Northeast region has huge potential to attract tourists from BIMSTEC countries. Adoption of the Master Plan of Transport connectivity will brighten the dream of India putting Northeast into the core of its areas of cooperation and engagement with other countries in the BIMSTEC. All this can be possible only when the northeast region actually becomes a part of this vibrant transboundary and multilateral engagement.