This volume is a comprehensive study of the challenges and opportunities facing the BIMSTEC, The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. BIMSTEC was established to promote economic cooperation among rising economic powers in South and Southeast Asia, but after years of stagnation the need for renewed regional commitment is starker than ever. The book studies the BIMSTEC’s present status and highlights the ways in which the organisation can be rejuvenated to forge a stronger Bay of Bengal community. It looks at key themes such as the challenges to regional integration, India’s "Look East" and Thailand’s "Look West" policies, transport connectivity and tourism within the BIMSTEC and the aspirations of various member countries. It also examines BIMSTEC’s approach towards climate change, disaster management and rehabilitation. A timely contribution, this volume will be useful for scholars and researchers of international relations, South Asian studies, foreign policy, diplomacy, Southeast Asian studies, defence and strategic affairs, maritime studies, international trade, regional cooperation and political studies.

This book reviews the past and provides new strategies to help BIMSTEC achieving a new paradigm of integration. It primarily deals with the regional cooperation and integration issues, and assesses policy priorities, effectiveness, implementation imperatives and challenges. Each chapter in this book tries to capture essential features of the crosscutting issues and attempts to draw some policy implications. The subject of this book will be of special interests to policy planners, development organisations, academicians, researchers as well as potential investors. Please note: T&Fdoes not sell or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) represents one of the most diverse regions of the world. Providing a unique link between South Asia and Southeast Asia, it brings together 1.5 billion people and a combined GDP of $2.7 trillion. This volume focuses on issues related to connectivity, commerce, and security challenges facing BIMSTEC. It studies BIMSTEC’s relevance as an inter-governmental organization in the changing international milieu. The volume discusses the necessity of connectivity to enhance Bay solidarity and analyses the political, strategic and security concerns that restrain commercial connectivity. It also looks at the Bay of Bengal region as a zone of competition—and possible collaboration—between the littoral countries and major powers involved in the region. Comprehensive and topical, this volume will be an essential read for scholars and researchers of international relations, South Asian studies, foreign policy, diplomacy, Southeast Asian studies, defence and strategic affairs, maritime studies, international trade, regional cooperation, and political studies.

This report outlines nontariff barriers to trade between BISMSTEC subregion countries and shows how a structured approach centered on boosting compliance, harnessing technology, and improving infrastructure can bolster intraregional trade. It gives a run-down of the trade infrastructure and regulations of each member country–Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal–outlines the constraints each faces and details progress made to date. Explaining how the region is recovering from the pandemic, it shows how factors such as faster clearing, stronger mutual agreements, and greater automation can streamline trade between the countries and spur economic growth.

This report assesses how to finance an extensive overhaul of transport infrastructure in the BIMSTEC subregion, considers the challenges of public and private financing, and outlines how to create an overarching financial framework. Underscoring why strong transport connectivity is critical to regional integration, the report highlights how economic and financial analyses can help fund key economic corridors and transport projects in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. It analyzes a plan for over 200 projects and sets out ways to boost public-private partnerships, develop capital markets, and establish a regional fund to help close the financing gap.

This report shows how countries in the BIMSTEC subregion can work together to rebuild their pandemic-battered travel industries and create intraregional thematic tour packages to boost visitor numbers and support sustainable development. It lays out comprehensive action plans involving each member country–Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand–and highlights the potential of cross-border tourism circuits based on themes such as wildlife, trekking, or religion. It explains the potential to grow intraregional tourism, use public–private partnerships, and harmonize infrastructure, connectivity, and marketing to develop seamless travel between member countries and fast-track their economic recovery.

Public health is identified by BIMSTEC member countries as one among its fourteen priority areas for cooperation. Such collaborations, however, have been limited around traditional medicine. This year’s launch of the JIPMER-BIMSTEC Telemedicine Network (JBTN) which combines public health, communication, and technology, is bound to change the status quo. In per-capita terms, three BIMSTEC members are wealthier than India, while three are poorer. Yet India’s health improvements have been slower than even its poorer neighbours. This brief argues that given the diversity within India, the country can learn from the other BIMSTEC members in striving for improvements in its health system. It makes a case for India to conduct and support comparative health system studies within BIMSTEC.

Contributed articles presented at the 2nd International Conference "Towards BIMSTEC-Japan Comprehensive Economic Cooperation: Vision of a New BIMSTEC" in continuation of the same conference held at Kolkata as Dialogue on BIMSTEC-Japan Comprehensive Economic Cooperation: Bangladesh Perspective held in Bangkok moderated by CSIRD, Kolkata, TDRI, Bangkok in collaboration with BIISS, Dhaka and CIEDS, Bangkok supported by Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Tokyo.

Papers presented at National Seminar on "BIMSTEC: Towards a Bay of Bengal Economic Community", held at Vishakhapatnam, India in 2005; articles chiefly with reference to the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Techno-Economic Cooperation, a combined initiative of South and Southeast Asian countries.

Based on the presentations during the 1st Dialogue on BIMSTEC-Japan Comprehensive Economic Cooperation: Bangladesh Perspective, held in Dhaka during July 7-8, 2006 the papers were prepared for a project entitled "Towards BIMSTEC--Japan comprehensive economic cooperation: Bangladesh perspective" undertaken at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Dhaka in collaboration with Centre for Studies in International Relations and Development, Kolkata with the assistance of Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Tokyo.