BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat Overview

India hosted the 2nd BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in New Delhi earlier this month with a focus on providing an “informal platform to discuss ways and means of cooperating and accelerating action in security, connectivity, trade, and investment within the Bay of Bengal.” The retreat was held in preparation for the sixth summit meeting, scheduled for September, in which the BIMSTEC leaders will meet in person for the first time in the post-pandemic era.

• Focus: Cooperation in security, connectivity, trade, and investment
• Preparation: For the sixth BIMSTEC summit (September)

BIMSTEC Context:

• Membership: 5 South Asian and 2 Southeast Asian countries
• Sectors: 7 diverse sectors
• Significance for India:
  • Multilateral engagement with eastern neighbors
  • Counter China’s influence in the Bay of Bengal
  • Enhance access to the sea for India’s northeastern region
  • Strengthen presence in the Indo-Pacific through relations with Myanmar and Thailand

Key Themes and Priorities:

• Security and Stability:
  • India’s vision: Neighbourhood First, Act East Policy, SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region)
  • Thailand: Bridge between BIMSTEC and ASEAN

Retreat Segments:

1. Assessment of Regional Cooperation:
   • Presentation by India on the 1st Retreat outcomes
   • Proposals:
     • Centers of Excellence in Agriculture, Disaster Management, and Maritime Transport
     • Support for cancer research and e-visas (India)
     • Inclusion of kidney disease (Sri Lanka)
   • Emphasis on:
     • Private sector involvement in trade
     • Promoting young entrepreneurs
     • Connectivity, cyber-security, and countering trafficking
2. Expectations for the Upcoming Summit:
   • Sri Lanka: Mapping mineral resources, vertical integration in production
   • Bangladesh: Cooperation in Blue Economy, ban on fishing during breeding season
   • Bhutan: Collaboration in tourism and cultural exchanges
   • Nepal: ‘Whole of the region’ approach for synergies
   • Thailand: Cooperation in non-traditional security domains
   • Myanmar: Combat online scamming

Bilateral Merits:

• India-Myanmar:
  • Concerns: Displaced persons, narcotics, arms trafficking
  • Request: Return of unlawfully detained Indians
• India-Bangladesh:
  • Requests: Smooth supply of daily essentials, technical team for the Teesta project

Significance for India:

• Marks a decade of Act East and Neighbourhood First policies
• Efforts to nurture collaborative growth for national and regional well-being
• Encouragement for future collaborations through new energies and resources

Implications for the UPSC IAS Exam:

• Prelims Focus:
  • Understanding BIMSTEC’s structure and objectives
  • Key countries involved
  • Major themes and proposals discussed during the retreat
• Mains Focus:
  • Analysis of India’s strategic interests in BIMSTEC
  • Impact of BIMSTEC on regional security and economic cooperation
  • India’s diplomatic engagements and policies (Act East, Neighbourhood First, SAGAR)
  • Evaluation of the outcomes and proposals from the retreat

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