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Bimstec

IR updated Notes PSIR Mains 2025

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15 views1 page

Bimstec

IR updated Notes PSIR Mains 2025

Uploaded by

niyassbiju4
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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BIMSTEC (BoB Initiative for Multi sectoral economic cooperation)

• Trans-regional grouping established in 1996 (Bangkok declaration) with


India+BD+Myanmar+Thailand - to promote broader economic cooperation
• Later in 2004 - Bhutan + Nepal + SL were also added
o making one of the strongest efforts of bridging gap b/w South Asia and South
East Asia
o Population of around 1.5 billion, approximately 21 % of global population, with a
cumulative GDP of US$ 2.5 trillion. The annual GDP growth rate has averaged
around 6 %.
• Sector driven cooperative organization
• 2010 - expanded scope - now includes – 14 sectors - write anything
• SAARC ending up being a hostage to India-Pak rivalries
• Recent BRICS Goa Summit 2016 - BIMSTEC outreach on the side
• Others
o IMT, Kaladan, BBIN MVA, Blue economy
• Most imp driver - BIMSTEC FTA
o Signed but not yet come into force
o Quickly expand it beyond goods to include services and investment
• Criticism
• India’s engagement with them has been mostly episodic and ad hoc. We have not created
the capacity to engage with our neighbours on a sustained basis and at multiple levels.
• Indian dilemma - The connectivity platform also opens the door to China selling its
ambitious OBOR initiative.
o Recently in the first ever military exercise of BIMSTEC, Nepal and Thailand did
not send their army chiefs, only observers. Nepal arranged military exercise with
China next week.
• Delivery Deficit
• Shyam Saran: Same projects reappearing as “fresh initiatives” in serial joint statements
over recent years. Our capacities and institutions continue to lag behind our ambitions. It
is time to move from an event-oriented to a process-driven approach.
• According to envoys of member countries of BIMSTEC, the organization suffers from
lack of visibility.
• Given the geo-strategic importance of BIMSTEC countries - India should take a
proactive and pragmatic approach to the regional grouping.
• Could start by Creating a separate BIMSTEC division in MoEA
• Speedy conclusion of FTA to boost intra-regional trade from 7% to 21%.

Q. Views on Thailand and Nepal not attending military exercise.

A. Rajiv Bhatia: It is wise to learn walking before trying to fly. We should first make BIMSTEC
running efficiently in economic domain before moving to security domain. Thailand was not
ready for this type of commitment.

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