BIMSTEC
1. Context
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Kathmandu for the fourth summit of the seven-nation grouping BIMSTEC. Although it has existed since 1997, BIMSTEC had been largely ignored until a push in recent years. A look at how it is emerging as a platform in which India and four other SAARC members could discuss sub-regional cooperation.
2. About BIMSTEC
- BIMSTEC is the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, is a regional organization comprising seven member states in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
- The organization aims to foster cooperation and strengthen ties among its member countries in various sectors, including trade, economy, technology, tourism, and people-to-people contact.
- BIMSTEC was established on June 6, 1997, through the Bangkok Declaration.
- The member countries of BIMSTEC are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
- BIMSTEC brings together countries from two contiguous regions- South Asia and Southeast Asia- connected by the Bay of Bengal.
- The organization represents a diverse and vibrant mix of cultures, languages, and economies.
- Around 22% of the world’s population lives in the seven countries around the Bay of
Bengal, with a combined GDP close to $2.7 trillion. - All seven countries have sustained average annual rates of growth between 3.4% and 7.5% from 2012 to 2016. A fourth of the world’s traded goods cross the bay every year.
3. Objectives of BIMSTEC:
- Enhancing Economic Cooperation: BIMSTEC aims to promote economic cooperation among member countries by facilitating trade, investment, and the development of infrastructure. It seeks to create a seamless flow of goods and services within the region, fostering economic growth and development.
- Strengthening Connectivity: Improving physical and digital connectivity is a crucial aspect of BIMSTEC's objectives. By enhancing transport and communication links, the organization seeks to facilitate easier movement of people and goods, encouraging regional integration.
- Promoting People-to-People Contact: BIMSTEC strives to promote cultural, educational, and tourism exchanges among member countries. This approach helps in fostering mutual understanding, friendship, and trust among the people of the region.
- Addressing Common Challenges: BIMSTEC provides a platform for member countries to address common challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, terrorism, and transnational crime. Cooperation in these areas is vital to ensuring the security and well-being of the region.
- Facilitating Technical Cooperation: The organization promotes technical cooperation in various sectors, such as agriculture, fisheries, technology, energy, and the environment. Sharing knowledge and expertise helps member countries address their developmental needs more effectively.
4. How BIMSTEC is important for India?
- It provides a new platform for India to engage with its neighbors with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) becoming dysfunctional because of differences between India and Pakistan.
- BIMSTEC allows India to pursue three core policies:
- Neighborhood First – primacy to the country’s immediate periphery;
- Act East – connect India with Southeast Asia; and
- Economic development of India’s northeastern states – by linking them to the Bay of Bengal region via Bangladesh and Myanmar.
- Allow India to counter China's creeping influence in countries around the Bay of Bengal due to the spread of its One Belt and One Road initiative.
5. India's Renewed Push for BIMSTEC and Isolating Pakistan
- Trigger Event: Terror attack in Uri
- India held an outreach summit with BIMSTEC leaders alongside the BRICS summit in Goa.
- Some BIMSTEC countries backed India's call for boycotting the SAARC summit in Islamabad (November 2016).
- India declared victory in isolating Pakistan after the SAARC summit was postponed.
- India believed SAARC's potential was under-utilized due to Pakistan's lack of response and obstructionist approach.
- At the 2014 SAARC summit in Kathmandu, Modi emphasized realizing opportunities through SAARC or outside it, among all or some member countries.
6. Challenges faced by BIMSTEC
- Neglect by member states: It seems that India has used BIMSTEC only when it fails to work through SAARC in the regional setting and other major members like Thailand and Myanmar are focused more towards ASEAN than BIMSTEC.
- Inconsistent Meetings: BIMSTEC planned to hold summits every two years, and ministerial meetings every year, but only four summits have taken place in 20 years up to 2018.
- Broad Focus Areas: The focus of BIMSTEC is very wide, including 14 areas of cooperation like connectivity, public health, agriculture, etc. It is suggested that BIMSTEC should remain committed to small focus areas and cooperate in them efficiently.
- No FTA: BIMSTEC FTA was negotiated in 2004, talks on it are yet to be concluded.
- Bilateral Issues between Member Nations: Bangladesh is facing one of the worst refugee crisis of Rohingyas from Myanmar who are fleeing prosecution in the state of Rakhine in Myanmar. There is a border conflict between Myanmar and Thailand.
- BCIM: The formation of another sub-regional initiative, the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Forum, with the proactive membership of China, has created more doubts about the exclusive potential of BIMSTEC.
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For Prelims: BIMSTEC, Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Forum, ASEAN, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Act East Policy, Neighbourhood First Policy, and Uri Attack.
For Mains: 1. Discuss the significance and challenges of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in promoting regional cooperation and integration among its member countries. (250 words)
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Previous year Questions
1. With reference to the BIMSTEC, which of the following statements is/are true? (UPPSC 2022)
1. P. M. Narendra Modi addressed the 5th BIMSTEC Summit on 30th March 2022.
2. 5th Summit of BIMSTEC had been chaired by India.
Select the correct answer from the code given below:
A. Neither 1 nor 2
B. Both 1 and 2
C. Only 2
D. Only 1
Answer: D
2. Which of the following statement/s is/are true about the three-day international Seminar on 'Climate Smart Farming System' for BIMSTEC countries held during December 11-13, 2019? (UPPSC 2020)
1. It was held at Katmandu, Nepal.
2. It was aimed to have experience sharing for more resilience to climate change through an ecological approach to enable the improvement of tropical small-holding farming systems.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
A. Only 1
B. Only 2
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
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Source: The Indian Express
