The BIMSTEC summit last week aimed to revive the regional grouping, which had stagnated due to political issues and lack of purpose.
Originally intended as a bridge between South Asia’s SAARC and Southeast Asia’s ASEAN, BIMSTEC gained importance after SAARC collapsed, especially after India-Pakistan ties soured post-2014.
Despite challenges like the Myanmar earthquake and COVID-19 disruptions, the summit succeeded with agreements on various projects, including a BIMSTEC chamber of commerce and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway.
The region, prone to natural disasters, plans to develop a joint disaster management mechanism and negotiate a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Customs agreements under the ‘Vision 2030’ framework.
The summit also focused on improving regional connectivity, including the implementation of the Motor Vehicles Agreement between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal, which had faced setbacks due to Bhutan's parliament rejecting it earlier.
The summit facilitated bilateral talks, with PM Modi addressing issues with Bangladesh and Nepal, hoping to resolve tensions.
Myanmar's inclusion was seen as a significant gesture, with hopes that the advice to restore democratic processes would be considered.
Many of the summit’s initiatives are similar to past SAARC agreements, and the focus now should be on ensuring BIMSTEC’s cohesion and long-term success.
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