Issues and Challenges facing BIMSTEC Organisation

Synopsis: Recently, the 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held. In this article, we will discuss the progress, issues, and challenges concerning the BIMSTEC organisation.

Background

• Recently, the 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held online. The foreign ministers of BIMSTEC (the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) were the participants.

About BIMSTEC

• Initially, BIMSTEC was a grouping of four nations (India, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka) formed through the Bangkok Declaration of 1997. Its aim was to promote rapid economic development.
• Later, three more countries (Myanmar, Nepal, and Bhutan) also included in BIMSTEC.
• The progress under BIMSTEC was slow in the first 2 decades of its establishment. For instance, only 3 summits were held in the first 20 years.
• However, After the failure of SAARC, India changed its foreign policy to treat it as a more important instrument for regional cooperation.
• BIMSTEC Leaders’ Retreat, followed by their Outreach Summit with the BRICS leaders in Goa in October 2016, gained international attention.
• Later, the 4th leaders’ summit, held in Kathmandu in August 2018. It framed an ambitious plan for institutional reform to include economic and security cooperation.
• During the 4^th summit, the decision was also taken to form the BIMSTEC charter.
• Today the shared goal is to aim for “a Peaceful, Prosperous and Sustainable Bay of Bengal Region”.

What are the developments in the 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting?

• One, the meeting welcomed the proposal to hold the 5th BIMSTEC Summit in Sri Lanka in the next few months.
• Two, the ministers recommended the early adoption of BIMSTEC charter.
• Three, they also endorsed the rationalization of sectors and sub-sectors of activity, with each member-state serving as a lead for the assigned areas of special interest.
• Four, they also supported the Master Plan for Transport Connectivity, which will be adopted at the next summit.
• Five, three MoUs / Agreements were also endorsed for signing at the next BIMSTEC Summit.

1. 1. Mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
   2. Cooperation between diplomatic academies.
   3. The establishment of a technology transfer facility in Colombo.

What were the opportunities missed out in the recent ministerial meeting?

• One, lack of deliberation on the trade and economic front. The BIMSTEC Free Trade Area Framework Agreement, signed in 2004 remains unsuccessful even after 20 rounds of negotiations. A recent study by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry had suggested that BIMSTEC should aim for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement to be a real game-changer.
• Two, there is no effort from the BIMSEC leaders to expand their dialogue by involving the vibrant business communities.

What are the issues that are hampering the progressive development of BIMSTEC?

BIMSTEC has achieved much progress in the fields of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and security, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and coastal security cooperation.

Also, the academic and strategic community actively interact through the BIMSTEC Network of Policy Think Tanks. Despite these developments, some concern remains

1. One, lack of cordial bilateral relations between its member states. For instance, India-Nepal, India-Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh-Myanmar ties are not good, due to political, economic, and social reasons.
2. Two, uncertainties over SAARC impact the development of BIMSTEC. For instance, BIMSTEC members Nepal and Sri Lanka want a revival of the SAARC summit.
3. Third, the growing influence of China in South Asia is another threat to BIMSTEC cooperation. For instance, a popular Bangladeshi scholar supported admitting China as a partner in BIMSTEC. However, India will not welcome this idea.
4. Fourth, the ongoing military coup in Myanmar and popular protest against the military coup is a new practical challenge.
5. Fifth, apathy towards holding regular annual summits. For instance, while most of the regional organisation (SCO, ASEAN, G20) were able to meet at a high political level even during the Pandemic, BIMSTEC leaders failed to meet.

Source: The Hindu