Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) – the sub-regional group of seven countries – “slowed down” since 2008, when the countries met for the second Summit in Delhi. Even the BIMSTEC Secretariat members accepted that sub-group hit the “road blocks” over the last decade. However, “things are changing” said the Director of the Dhaka-based BIMSTEC Secretariat Md. Shafiqur Rahman.
Mr. Rahman and other experts from the region recently attended a day-long conference on BIMSTEC in Kolkata, organised by the Centre for Studies in International Relations and Development and in Collaboration with CUTS International Public Policy Centre and Institute of Foreign Policy Studies.
“A difficult proposition”Former Foreign Secretary Krishnan Srinivasan, who chaired a session, described BIMSTEC as “a difficult proposition.” Elaborating on his argument Mr Srinivasan told The Hindu that there are many differences between the member countries.
“Uneven economy is restricting the growth of BIMSTEC. There are least developed countries (LDCs) with relatively developed economies like Thailand or India and they have an obvious difference of interest, which could not be ironed out over years,” Mr Srinivasan said.
The other factor was the absence of China in BIMSTEC. “On one hand China was never considered for this sub-regional grouping and on the other hand Beijing may not be interested to enter such an under-influential sub-group. However, if the biggest Asian economy is absent, you are bound to slow down,” said Mr Srinivasan. The idea of drawing investment from Japan, in stead of China, was also rejected.
“Investment from Japan can not be an alternative since Japan’s economy is close to deflation.” Mr Srinivasan also blamed the lack of political will for the failure of BIMSTEC.
“BIMSTEC, unlike SAARC, or other such sub-regional groups, is not on the top priority of the countries. There is a lack of will to engage with India’s North Eastern States to connect with the South East Asian countries…so it is unlikely for the BIMSTEC to move forward.” Recent setting up of the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka, however, in the last few months, is a “positive development,” said Mr. Srinivasan.
One of the speakers, Professor Surat Horachaikul, the founding director of Indian Studies Centre of Chulalongkorn University of Thailand was even more critical.
“I can call any secretary or diplomat dealing with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, but I am not sure who to call for the BIMSTEH,” he argued. “However, occasionally I get calls from some diplomat enquiring about the status of BIMSTEC and then the person disappears for three years and then another similar call arrives after few years,” said Professor Horachaikul.
