BIMSTEC: PM MODI’S SAARC ALTERNATIVE

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising seven member states (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan) lying in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal constituting a contiguous regional unity. It came into being on 6^th June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration. Cooperation within BIMSTEC is based on respect for the principle of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, no interference in internal affairs, peaceful co-existence and mutual benefits. Cooperation within BIMSTEC will constitute an addition to and not be substitute for bilateral, regional or multilateral cooperation involving the member states. BIMSTEC is a bridge linking South and South East Asia. India is the founding member of BIMSTEC.

The regional group constitutes a bridge between South and South East Asia and represents a reinforcements of relations among these countries. BIMSTEC region is home to around 1.5 billion people which constitutes around 22% of the global population with combined GDP of 2.8 trillion economy. The region in the last 5 years have been able to sustain an average economic growth of 6.5% despite slow global economic growth.

BIMSTEC is a sector driven cooperative organization which include trade, technology, energy, transport, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, public health, poverty alleviation, counter-terrorism, environment, culture, people to people contact and climate change.

BIMSTEC AN ALTERNATIVE TO SAARC

The 19^th SAARC summit which was scheduled in Pakistan 0n 14-16 November 2016 was boycotted by India followed by Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Maldives following rising diplomatic tensions after Uri terrorist attack on 18 September 2016 in J&K, culminating in an indefinite postponement of the summit. Also, Pakistan had been blocking key Anti-Terror, Free Trade and Connectivity initiatives like SAARC Motor Vehicles and SAARC Railway agreement. In this scenario, India had to find an alternative forum to achieve its regional development goals and enhanced trade with more connected ASEAN market and BIMSTEC was the right forum.

BIMSTEC fits very well with the “Neighbourhood First” Policy where five countries from South Asia and two from South East Asia, ASEAN countries form a natural land and sea link between South Asia and South East Asia. It also fits well with the priority of Indian government to give an impetus to North East region of India through land connectivity to Thailand via Myanmar as well as through the Bay of Bengal. Bay of Bengal is a common space for connectivity and security for India and with strong cultural, linguistic and people to people links between the countries, BIMSTEC becomes a subset of growth region in the “Indo-Pacific”.

The biggest highlights during 8th BRICS Summit on 15-16 October 2016 in Goa was BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit. This indicated importance India gave to BIMSTEC as an alternative to SAARC.

FOURTH BIMSTEC SUMMIT

Seven member countries met in Kathmandu, Nepal on 30-31 August 2018 for the Fourth BIMSTEC Summit. The leaders discussed Poverty alleviation, Transport & Communications (Connectivity), Trade & Investment, Counter Terrorism & Transnational Crime, Environment & Disaster Management, Climate Change, Energy, Technology, Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue Economy, People to People contacts, Cultural Cooperation and Tourism

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Member states stressed the need for a fair, just, rule-based, equitable and transparent international order and reaffirmed faith in multilateralism with the United Nations at the Centre and the rule based international trading system.
2. Member states strongly condemned terrorist attacks in all parts of the world including in BIMSTEC countries and terrorism in all its form and manifestations.
3. Affirmed that the fight against terrorism should target not only terrorists, terror organizations and networks but also identify and hold accountable States and non-State entities that encourage, support or finance terrorism, provide sanctuaries to terrorists and terror groups.
4. Commitment to combat terrorism and devise a comprehensive approach which include preventing financing of terrorists and terrorist actions from territories under their control, blocking recruitment and cross-border movement of terrorists, countering radicalization, countering misuse of internet for terrorism and dismantling terrorist safe havens.
5. Member countries reposed faith unequivocally in the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and strengthen the multilateral system by reforming its rules, institutions and instruments to make it relevant to contemporary global challenges and present a collective voice to safeguard collective interests for a fair, just, rule-based, equitable and transparent world order.
6. Prepared a preliminary draft of the BIMSTEC Charter for the organization, defining a long-term vision and priorities for cooperation, roles and responsibilities of different layers of institutional structure and decision-making processes, and to develop the Rules of Procedure (RoP) for the BIMSTEC Mechanisms.
7. Directed the relevant Ministries/national agencies of respective governments to explore the possibility of establishing a BIMSTEC Development Fund (BDF), which will be utilized for research and planning of BIMSTEC and financing of projects, programmes and other activities of BIMSTEC Centers.
8. Reiterated their commitment to the eradication of poverty in the Bay of Bengal Region by 2030 in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and called for effective implementation of the BIMSTEC Poverty Plan of Action.
9. Member states expressed satisfaction on the draft BIMSTEC Master Plan on Transport Connectivity and called for its early adoption. 
10. To establish a Working Group to deal with Information Technology and Communications related matters to provide greater access and affordable high speed internet and mobile communications to the people of the region. India to host BIMSTEC Ministerial Conclave at the India Mobile Congress 2018 to be held in New Delhi from 25-27 October 2018 on the theme “New digital Horizons: Connect, Create, Innovate”.
11. Renewed commitment to an early conclusion of BIMSTEC Free Trade Area (FTA) negotiations and expressed satisfaction on the progress of negotiation on the Agreement on Trade in Goods and the Agreement on Customs Cooperation.
12. Agreed to revitalize the activities of BIMSTEC Business Forum and BIMSTEC Economic Forum to further strengthen Government–Private sector cooperation for the promotion of trade and investment and to continue negotiation for finalization of the modalities for the BIMSTEC Visa Facilitation.
13. India to host BIMSTEC Start Up Conclave in December 2018.
14. Member countries look forward to the signing and ratification of the BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. Expressed satisfaction that many Member States have ratified the BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking.
15. Expressed determination to strengthen cooperation and coordination among the law enforcement, intelligence and security agencies; and decided to hold meetings at the level of BIMSTEC Home Ministers and continue with the BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs meetings as part of promoting cooperation and coordination on counter terrorism and transnational crimes. Thailand to host the Third Meeting of the BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs in March 2019.
16. Remained committed to provide uninterrupted and affordable power supply for the economic development of people in the region and welcomed the signing of MOU on BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection. Member states called for an early operationalization of the BIMSTEC Energy Centre in order to strengthen energy cooperation in the region.
17. Member states agreed to enhance cooperation for development, access and sharing of affordable technologies for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises by signing MOU on the Establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Sri Lanka.
18. Decided to deepen cooperation in the agricultural and allied sectors, including crops, livestock and horticulture, farm machinery and harvest management so as to increase productivity and profitability of agricultural produce in a sustainable manner.
19. The member states emphasized the need to enhance cultural exchange among Member States to further strengthen the historic cultural ties among people, promote mutual respect and tolerance for cultural diversity by connecting the thread of Buddhism and establishing a Buddhist Circuit.
20. Bangladesh to hold the 2nd BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Culture and 1st BIMSTEC Cultural Festival.
21. Member states agreed to take concrete steps to promote Intra-BIMSTEC tourism.
22. Stressed on continued cooperation in conservation, management and sustainable use of marine resources in the region and to deepen cooperation in fisheries to ensure food security and improve livelihoods of people in our region.