India-Thailand leadership can reinvigorate Bimstec

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is set to attend the twice-postponed Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) Summit in Thailand beginning Friday in the shadow of the devastating earthquake in the region.

- Gurjit Singh

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is set to attend the twice-postponed Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) Summit in Thailand beginning Friday in the shadow of the devastating earthquake in the region. Bimstec, established in 1997, has significant strategic and economic potential, but it faces several challenges that hinder its effectiveness. Foremost of them is the absence of a strong institutional framework.

Unlike say the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the Bimstec secretariat has limited resources and authority, leading to slow decision-making. No single country has consistently taken the lead in driving Bimstec's agenda: The diverse membership — Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan — often struggles with setting priorities. Besides, India-China tensions indirectly impact Bimstec: China is not a member but influences Myanmar, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Political instability in Myanmar and regional rivalries have further stalled cooperation.

Key agreements, such as the Bimstec Free Trade Agreement (FTA), remain stalled. Bureaucratic inertia and lack of enforcement mechanisms further delay economic integration. Despite discussions on transport and energy projects, weak infrastructure links remain a barrier. Maritime and road connectivity projects, like the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and Trilateral Highway, have been delayed. High tariffs and non-tariff barriers further restrict intra-regional trade. Even though maritime security, terrorism, and the climate crisis affect the region, cooperation remains limited. Similarly, cybersecurity and disaster management efforts need more coordination.