New Delhi
The sixth summit of Bengal Initiative for Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is going to be held in Bangkok on 4 April. Before this conference, there will be a meeting of senior officials on April 2 and a meeting of Foreign Ministers on 3 April. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also leave for Bangkok on Thursday to attend the conference.
Sixth summit in Bangkok
The theme of the event, to be held three years after the previous summit (March 30, 2022) in Colombo, has been decided ‘rich, flexible and open BIMSTEC’, which reflects the commitment of the forum for regional integration and economic cooperation. With a comprehensive agenda, the summit is to strengthen cooperation between seven member countries, ie Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, by solving shared security and development challenges.
The main features of the summit include the adoption of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit Declaration, which will highlight the attitudes and instructions of the leaders. Also, historic Bangkok Vision 2030 will be the first strategic roadmap to increase future cooperation. As an important step towards regional contact, leaders of all countries will also sign the Maritime Transport Cooperation Agreement, which aims to expand the trade and travel in the Bay of Bengal.
What is the purpose of BIMSTEC
The 6th BIMSTEC summit is expected to strengthen the role of the organization as a primary regional platform for cooperation in the Bay of Bengal in the era of rising geopolitical and economic uncertainties. With five South Asian and two South-East Asian countries, BIMSTEC is ready to become a more dynamic and influential player in regional matters.
Since its inception in 1997, BIMSTEC has organized five summit. Bangkok (2004), New Delhi (2008), NAPEDO (2014), Kathmandu (2018) and Colombo (2022). The organization focuses on seven major areas including agriculture and food security, connectivity, environment and climate change, people’s contact, science and technology, security, business and investment, as well as eight sub-sector, including blue economy, disaster management and health.
India is the most influential member
Experts believe that this Summit of BIMSTEC will prove to be helpful in shaping its strategic direction. At the same time, it will ensure that this platform remains important for economic development, security cooperation and sustainable development in the Bay region of Bengal. India is one of the four founding members of BIMSTEC, who leads regional cooperation in security, energy and disaster management.
Being the largest contributor (32 percent) in the budget of BIMSTEC Secretariat, India hosts two BIMSTEC centers. BIMSTEC Time and Climate Center in Noida, Uttar Pradesh and BIMSTEC Energy Center in Bangalore. Also, three more new centers of excellence in agriculture, disaster management and maritime transport have been proposed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been the greatest inspiring power behind Bimstech, he hosted the Retreat (2016) of BIMSTEC leaders in Goa and announced a million dollar financial grant at the 5th BIMSTEC summit to strengthen the institutional capacity. India hosted the retreat of the second BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers in July 2024, in which the initiative was taken for new centers, space cooperation and exchanges among the people. Along with this, India also chaired the informal meeting of BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Preparation to challenge China
Neberhood First Policy, Act East Policy and Sagar (Safety and Development for all in the region) shows India’s strong bilateral relations with BIMSTEC countries. The Bay region of Bengal stands at an intersection, ensuring India’s commitment to develop as an active forum, which can harmonize between cultures and economies for a shared-rich future.
India, leaving SAARC behind, has now turned its focus towards BIMSTEC. Due to Pakistan’s involvement among SAARC members, there was constant obstacles and no conference of SAARC has been held after the Uri attack in 2016. In such a situation, now SAARC is being considered as a passive platform. On the other hand, India is also giving priority to BIMSTEC with the aim of ending China’s dominance over countries adjacent to the Bay of Bengal and its expansionism. If India leads this platform well then the member countries will be difficult to support China and in such a situation, India has the ability to lead not only BIMSTEC but also Asia.
Strong relations with member countries
India is the fifth largest economy in the world and the largest economic power in BIMSTEC. In such a situation, by using the platform of BIMSTEC, by increasing mutual cooperation between member countries, India can establish a strong relationship with these countries bordering its eastern border, which will give a tough challenge to China. If India’s relations with these countries will be strong, then these member countries will also keep India’s interests above China and will definitely consider their relationship before approved any dragon project there.
Modi’s fourth visit to the island nation since 2015
This will be Prime Minister Modi’s fourth visit to the nation of the nation since 2015. Earlier, PM Modi visited Sri Lanka in 2015, 2017 and 2019. This journey is taking place at a time when the issue of arrest of fishermen between India and Shrimalka is hot. For this reason, there is a tension between the two countries. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin several times abroad Matri S. Jayashankar has written a letter asking him to work to find a permanent solution to the issue.
More than 150 Indian fishermen arrested this year
Earlier, the Sri Lankan Navy claimed that they arrested more than 550 Indian fishermen who entered the Sri Lankan water area in 2024. This year, more than 150 Indian fishermen have been arrested so far.
