At the second Foreign Ministers’ Retreat of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), India underlined the need for renewed commitment and enhanced cooperation among the member states.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s call to action underscored India’s strategic focus on the Bay of Bengal region, aligning with its ‘Neighbourhood First’, ‘Act East Policy’, and ‘SAGAR’ vision. In New Delhi he highlighted the untapped potential for collaboration in sectors crucial to regional development, including connectivity, trade, health, space, and digital infrastructure. Jaishankar urged BIMSTEC to aspire for greater achievements, aiming to overcome historical underutilization of collaborative opportunities.
The retreat, attended by top diplomats from member nations, aimed to foster open and fruitful exchanges. Discussions revolved around key areas such as enhancing connectivity, boosting trade and business cooperation, strengthening health collaboration, advancing space technology, and promoting societal exchanges. These deliberations are pivotal as they set the stage for substantive outcomes at the upcoming BIMSTEC summit later this year, hosted by Thailand.
Thailand, the current chair of BIMSTEC, assumes a crucial role in steering the group towards deeper regional integration. The retreat’s agenda reflected shared priorities among member states, emphasizing the urgency of addressing regional challenges through mutual cooperation. Jaishankar emphasized that the retreat’s outcomes should signal a robust commitment to injecting fresh energy and resources into BIMSTEC’s cooperative framework.
The BIMSTEC initiative gains significance amidst the backdrop of stalled progress within SAARC, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. India’s proactive approach in strengthening BIMSTEC underscores its commitment to regional stability and economic prosperity, leveraging the group’s diverse membership and geographic advantage around the Bay of Bengal.
As preparations intensify for the upcoming summit, expectations are high for concrete outcomes that will propel BIMSTEC towards realizing its full potential as a dynamic regional cooperation forum. This retreat not only reaffirmed the collective commitment of member states but also set a proactive agenda for future engagements aimed at addressing mutual challenges and harnessing opportunities for shared growth in the Bay of Bengal region and beyond.