BIMSTEC : 25 Years of Driving Force behind Neighbourhood Cooperation Conference in Kolkata

Partha Roy, Kolkata: Two days 2nd ISCS BIMSTEC Conference is by being organised in Kolkata on 25th & 26th March 2023 to deliberate on various policy issues that can promote multilateral cooperation among BIMSTEC nations. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand comprise the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

The Conference was opened by Shri Rajkumar Ranjan Singh Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India in presence of Mr. Tenzin Lekphell Secretary General BIMSTEC Secretariat Dhaka, Bangladesh and Shri Arindam Mukherjee Director, ISCS ( Institute of Social And Cultural Studies), India.

Two days meet is holding sessions on Transport Connectivity , Food Security , Climate Change , Educational Cooperation, Cultural Exchanges and Civilizational Linkages, People to People to connect. Ambassador of Myanmar Mr. Moe Kyaw Aung, Dr. Rajdeep Roy Member of Parliament, Loksabha India, Mr. Thiam Hee Ng Asian Development Bank Manila representative, Additional Secretary of MEA, Shri N. G. Khaitan President of Bharat Chamber of Commerce, Consul General of Thailand, Ms. Minakshi Misra Zonal Director ICCR Kolkata, diplomatic representatives and large no.of top policy Researchers from different BIMSTEC nations are attending the Conference.

Shri Arindam Mukherjee, Director ISCS stressed MEA decision to host this BIMSTEC nations meet in Kolkata is laudable as Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is promoting “ACT EAST” policy as a part of Indian foreign policy. Shri Arindam Mukherjee also highlighted that session on Food Security is being organised as a part of BIMSTEC nations policy cooperation and collaboration deliberation as India can play major role in ensuring food security for BIMSTEC nations in evolving food security challenges due to changing global climate, political & economic scenes.