This article is part of the series — BIMSTEC in 2021.
The latest resurgence of COVID-19 gives the year 2021 a tepid start. Speaking of the activity calendar of BIMSTEC, leaders and diplomatic officials might wonder how the major meeting in Bangkok this year will be conducted considering the travel restrictions brought about by the pandemic.
2021 is a very important year for Thailand, which will succeed Sri Lanka as chairman of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) for 2021. Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has planned in advance to make the event high profile as it is to mark the 24th anniversary of BIMSTEC, which indeed was conceived in Bangkok on 6 June 1997.
‘The Bay of Bengal: An Aspiration for Sustainability’ event succeeded in putting a human face on BIMSTEC, showing the cultural connectivity between Thailand and the other six nations.
In November last year, The South Asian Studies Center, Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University and BIMSTEC Network of Policy Think Tanks in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand, Thailand Science Research and Innovation, and MBK Center held ‘The Bay of Bengal: An Aspiration for Sustainability’ event to promote awareness about South Asia. The event took place at the popular MBK department store in Bangkok’s business district and successfully drew people and media attention. Much reported was the cultural activities, especially the variety of curry dishes, not only from India but also from Nepal, as well as local cuisine from various other regions in South Asia. The event succeeded in putting a human face on BIMSTEC, showing the cultural connectivity between Thailand and the other six nations.
Needless to say, at the meeting in Bangkok in 2021, the Thai government is going to use the meeting to push for land and sea transport connectivity. The highlight of the transport connectivity projects is the 1,360-kilometre trilateral highway from Mae Sot in Thailand through Myanmar to India's Northeastern border town of Moreh. The route would realise the vision that people can drive from Mae Sot district in Tak province to India and vice versa. Another project is the deep sea port at Ranong, a coastal town opposite Myanmar in the Andaman Sea. Under this, the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) plans to upgrade Ranong’s two ports to improve connectivity in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Upgraded ports would increase cargo capacity and enhance maritime activities in the Bay of Bengal region.
At the meeting in Bangkok in 2021, the Thai government is going to use the meeting to push for land and sea transport connectivity.
Hopefully, the meeting in Bangkok could dovetail various dimensions and go beyond the usual talks on trade, investment on logistics, and technical cooperation. Many critics believe that the bloc has made little progress as an instrument to promote multilateralism. Despite convening meetings, since 2004, that were dedicated to fostering free trade and economic cooperation, nothing substantial has been achieved.
This is not to say that the bloc has not done any substantial work. BIMSTEC has 14 areas of cooperation and some areas have been pursued such as enhancing cyber security, promoting fisheries and building energy projects. Yet, much more can be done in the bid to energise and make BIMSTEC more relevant to people. One clear and present opportunity is cultural connectivity. For instance, Buddhism is a common thread that runs through many of the BIMSTEC member countries, which requires cooperation in the multilateral format, not bilateral exchange. Sri Lanka and Thailand have had long and fruitful exchanges on Buddhist activities, while Thai Buddhists are trying to connect with the minority Buddhist community in Bangladesh’s Chittagong area, with the aim of preserving Buddhism there. Needless to say, millions of Thai Buddhists go to Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar in India for pilgrimage — a must-visit trip at least once in their lives. BIMSTEC can promote this cooperation through educational and cultural activities, tourism promotion, and special visa facilities for pilgrimage purposes.
Much more can be done in the bid to energise and make BIMSTEC more relevant to people. One clear and present opportunity is cultural connectivity.
One area that is regrettably unexplored is environmental cooperation, despite countries in the Bay of Bengal being under the same threats from climate change. Floods caused by sea surges and coastal erosion are big threats to the coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea alike. One project that should be of prime importance to the five BIMSTEC members with a seacoast is mangrove forest expansion to prevent floods and coastal erosion. Member countries should collectively set the goal to create green connectivity by using a climate change mitigation plan as a jump start.
BIMSTEC is going to reach its milestone 25th anniversary in 2022. The mature will have to build a new bridge and reach out to the younger and more energetic forces in the grouping. Yet, the mature bloc must look back and re-examine its rich cultural heritage so as to create new DNA for the bloc, so that it can move forward together towards a sustainable, prosperous, and peaceful future together.
The views expressed above belong to the author(s). ORF research and analyses now available on Telegram! Click here to access our curated content — blogs, longforms and interviews.