The intensity with which India is trying to focus on the aspect of subregional affinity — in the geopolitical and geostrategic realms — finds expression in the BBIN interaction.
This publication is an offshoot of the Young Thinkers’ Conference (YTC), titled
BBIN: Opportunities and Challenges held on 8–9 November 2017 in Kolkata. This conference was unique in its attempt to harness the active engagement and energy of the youth. The young crowd present at The Oberoi Grand reflected the enthusiasm of students, researchers, officials and other stakeholders, most of them below the age of 45. Young minds can be the driving force of change, cutting through stagnant ideas, and the Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata Centre along with the British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata took the initiative to build a platform that encourages fresh debates among young adults.
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This was the first YTC in Eastern and Northeastern India. It is a collective flagship programme of the British High Commission and the Observer Research Foundation focusing on issues related to foreign and security policies. The endeavour brought together experts and young thinkers across various disciplines from India and its neighbouring countries, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, to discuss a wide range of issues related to the BBIN subregion. The deliberation was a success, yielding important suggestions that may be utilised in forming the BBIN subregional framework. The dynamic spectrum of connectivity is considered the mainstay of interaction and interdependence between geographically contiguous regions of the world. The BBIN region has long observed the workings of niche elements within productive regional cooperation, allowing further correspondence among them. The intensity with which India is trying to focus on this aspect of subregional affinity — in the geopolitical and geostrategic realms — finds expression in the BBIN interaction. While other member countries perceive the initiative as India-centric, they are nonetheless eager to enhance interface within the subregion, preserving their own social, economic, political and cultural identity. This strategic thought process is the product of the need for stronger economic ties, security, peace, stability and prosperity in the region. These requirements call for increased people-to-people interaction, better management of resources and the development of multi-modal transportation systems, all for better subregional connectivity. The coordinative architecture of the BBIN has given rise to the South Asian Growth Quadrangle, which facilitates, formulates, implements and reviews quadrilateral agreements for the benefit of the entire area. Such partnership will not only pave the way for a transport corridor but also facilitate the flow of trade. The YTC had three major themes: a) Connectivity and Business Opportunities in BBIN; b) BBIN: Security Concerns; and c) BBIN: The Way Ahead.
This publication embodies the views of the participants in the form of contributed papers and the discussions held during the conference. The aim of this document is to bring forward policy recommendations that will enable the BBIN to undertake better movement in the long run.
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