The Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) sub-regional initiative is envisioned to improve economic cooperation and connectivity among the four South Asian countries. For India, this initiative allows it to bypass some of the more complex political issues of SAARC and engage in direct discussions on connectivity with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal. This initiative is expected to help the landlocked developing countries of this region to integrate more effectively with the global economy. But there may be certain challenges, too. India has been a dominant member of SAARC; without Pakistan and Sri Lanka, India’s dominance in BBIN will be even more pronounced. It is also important to keep in mind that political objectives and policy priorities of BBIN countries might not always align perfectly. The long-term success of BBIN will depend on how well these concerns are managed within the framework.

• Neighbourhood
• Developing and Emerging Economies
• India
• Neighbourhood

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