In%201999%2C%20Thomas%20Friedman%2C%20the%20renowned%20columnist%20and%20author%20wrote%20that%20the%20world%20had%20gone%20from%20a%20system%20built%20around%20walls%20to%20a%20system%20increasingly%20built%20around%20networks.%26nbsp%3BThis%20has%20been%20the%20rationale%20behind%20the%20emergence%20of%20numerous%20regional%20groupings%20such%20as%20the%20European%20Economic%20Community%2C%20ASEAN%2C%26nbsp%3Bthe%20African%20Union%2C%20the%20Gulf%20Cooperation%20Council%2C%20the%20Union%20of%20South%20American%20Nations%2C%20Mercosur%20and%20a%20host%20of%20other%20regional%20organisations.%26nbsp%3B

The%20need%20for%20regional%20cooperation%20was%20felt%20in%20South%20Asia%20too%2C%20and%20the%20South%20Asian%20Association%20for%20Regional%20Cooperation%20or%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/india-announces-gift-of-200000-covid-19-doses-for-un-peacekeepers%22%3ESAARC%26nbsp%3B%3C/a%3Ewas%20established%20in%20December%201985%20with%20the%20objective%20of%20working%20together%20to%26nbsp%3Bpromote%20the%20welfare%20of%20the%20people%20of%20South%20Asia.%26nbsp%3BHowever%2C%20SAARC%20failed%20to%26nbsp%3Bpromote%20regional%20cooperation%3B%20there%20were%20many%20factors%20for%20this%2C%20but%20foremost%20among%20them%20was%20Pakistan%27s%20unending%20hostility%20toward%20India.%26nbsp%3B

In%20this%20background%2C%20India%20looked%20for%20another%20regional%20organisation%20to%20act%20as%20the%20vehicle%20for%20regional%20cooperation.%20The%20creation%20of%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/india-committed-to-cooperation-under-bimstec-framework-jaishankar%22%3EBIMSTEC%3C/a%3E%20%28Bay%20of%20Bengal%20Initiative%20for%20Multi-Sectoral%20Technical%20and%20Economic%20Cooperation%29%26nbsp%3Boffered%20a%20way%20out.%26nbsp%3BThis%20sub-regional%20organisation%20came%20into%20being%20through%20the%26nbsp%3BBangkok%20Declaration%20of%3Cstrong%3E%26nbsp%3B%3C/strong%3E1997.%3Cstrong%3E%26nbsp%3B%3C/strong%3EInitially%2C%20it%20had%20four%20Member%20States%20with%20the%20acronym%26nbsp%3B%u2018BIST-EC%u2019%26nbsp%3B%28%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/modi-sheikh-hasina-restore-chilahati-haldibari-rail-link-between-india-and-bangladesh-after-55-years%22%3EBangladesh%3C/a%3E%2C%20India%2C%20Sri-Lanka%20and%20Thailand%20Economic%20Cooperation%29%20which%26nbsp%3Bbecame%20renamed%26nbsp%3B%u2018BIMST-EC%u2019%26nbsp%3Bin%201997%2C%20following%20the%20inclusion%20of%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/outpour-of-refugees-from-myanmar-just-beginning-unsc-special-envoy%22%3EMyanmar.%3C/a%3E%20In%202004%2C%26nbsp%3BWith%20the%20admission%20of%20Nepal%20and%20Bhutan%2C%20the%20name%20was%20changed%20to%20%u2018Bay%20of%20Bengal%20Initiative%20for%20Multi-Sectoral%20Technical%20and%20Economic%20Cooperation%u2019%26nbsp%3B%28BIMSTEC%29.

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20Read%3A%3C/strong%3E%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/some-positive-signs-in-india-pakistan-relations%22%3E%3Cstrong%3ESome%20positive%20signs%20in%20India-Pakistan%20relations%3F%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

However%2C%20a%20moot%20point%20is%20whether%20BIMSTEC%20is%20heading%20anywhere%2C%20or%20is%20it%20belying%20the%20hopes%20and%20expectations%20from%20it%3F%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3B

There%26nbsp%3Bare%20several%20factors%20which%20impart%20BIMSTEC%20a%20great%20deal%20of%20significance%20for%20India.%20Firstly%2C%20it%20is%20a%20forum%20for%20India%20to%20meaningfully%20engage%20with%20its%20South%26nbsp%3BAsian%20neighbors%2C%20especially%20as%20SAARC%20has%20become%20practically%20non-functional.%20Secondly%2C%20it%20facilitates%20two%20important%20objectives%20of%20our%20foreign%20policy%3A%20Neighborhood%20First%20%28according%20to%20primacy%20to%20the%20country%u2019s%20immediate%20neighbourhood%29%20and%20Act%20East%20%28connecting%20India%20with%20Southeast%20Asia%29.%20Thirdly%2C%20BIMSTEC%20can%20help%20in%20the%20economic%20development%20of%20India%u2019s%20North%20Eastern%20states%20by%20linking%20them%20to%20the%20Bay%20of%20Bengal%20region%20via%20Bangladesh%20and%20Myanmar.%20Fourthly%2C%20India%20hopes%20that%20it%20could%20help%20in%20countering%20China%u2019s%20increasing%20influence%20through%20its%20Belt%20and%20Road%20Initiative%20in%20countries%20around%20the%20Bay%20of%20Bengal.%26nbsp%3B%20%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3B

The%20importance%20which%20India%20attaches%20to%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/lanka-invites-foreign-minister-of-myanmar-junta-for-bimstec-meet%22%3E%20BIMSTEC%3C/a%3E%26nbsp%3Bwas%20recently%20emphasised%20by%20the%20External%20Affairs%20Minister.%20Speaking%20at%20the%2017th%20BIMSTEC%20Ministerial%20Meeting%20on%20Thursday%201st%20April%2C%26nbsp%3Bhe%20said%20that%20India%20remains%20committed%20to%20further%20building%20the%20momentum%20of%20regional%20cooperation%20under%20the%20framework%20of%20BIMSTEC%20%28Bay%20of%20Bengal%20Initiative%20for%20Multi-Sectoral%20Technical%20and%20Economic%20Cooperation%29%20and%20making%20it%20a%20stronger%2C%20vibrant%20and%20result-oriented%20grouping.

He%20also%26nbsp%3Bsaid%20that%20BIMSTEC%20enjoys%20the%20unique%20strength%20of%20connecting%20South%20and%20South-East%20Asia.%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3B

Robust%20connectivity%20is%20an%20essential%20prerequisite%20for%20economic%20integration%20of%20the%20region%20with%20smooth%20cross-border%20movement%20of%20people%20and%20goods%2C%20and%20the%20Member%20States%20have%20finalized%20the%20BIMSTEC%20Master%20Plan%20for%20Transport%20Connectivity%20which%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20adopted%20at%20the%20fifth%20BIMSTEC%20Summit%20to%20be%20held%20in%20Colombo.%26nbsp%3B%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/india-attends-key-meeting-of-bimstec%22%3EBIMSTEC%3C/a%3E%20also%20needs%20to%20finalise%20the%20BIMSTEC%20Coastal%20Shipping%20Agreement%20and%20the%20Motor%20Vehicles%20Agreement%20at%20an%20early%20date.

Another%20priority%20area%20is%20and%20will%20continue%20to%20be%20Counter%20terrorism%20and%20trans-national%20crimes.%20Cooperation%20in%20the%20security%20sector%20has%20a%20special%20significance.%20As%20Jaishankar%20said%20%22Our%20NSAs%20have%20met%20thrice%20since%202017.%20They%20have%20been%20working%20closely%20and%20have%20moved%20forward%20in%20several%20aspects%20of%20security%20cooperation%20including%20counter-terrorism%2C%20intelligence%20sharing%2C%20coastal%20security%2C%20cybersecurity%2C%20etc%20in%20a%20tangible%20manner.%22

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20Read%3A%3C/strong%3E%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/pakistans-u-turn-on-imports-from-india-cutting-its-nose-to-spite-the-face%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EPakistan%27s%20U-turn%20on%20imports%20from%20India%3A%20Cutting%20its%20nose%20to%20spite%20its%20face%21%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

However%2C%20one%20should%20not%20overlook%26nbsp%3Bthe%20shortcomings%20of%20this%20regional%26nbsp%3Borganisation.%20Although%20more%20than%2023%20years%20have%26nbsp%3Belapsed%20since%20BIMSTEC%20was%26nbsp%3Bset%20up%2C%20its%20member%20countries%20have%20not%20been%20able%20to%20set%20up%20a%20Free%20Trade%20Area.%20Moreover%2C%26nbsp%3BBIMSTEC%20as%20an%20organisation%20has%20not%20picked%20up%20the%20desired%20momentum.%20Its%26nbsp%3BSummits%20are%20supposed%20to%20be%20held%20every%20two%20years%20and%20ministerial%20meetings%20every%20year%2C%20but%20only%20four%20summits%20have%20taken%20place%20in%2023%20years%20until%20now.%20These%20were%20the%20Summits%20on%2031%20July%202004%20in%20Bangkok%2C%20Thailand%3B%2013%20November%202008%20in%20New%20Delhi%2C%20India%3B%204%20March%202014%20at%20Naypyidaw%2C%20Myanmar%3B%20and%2030%u201331%20August%202018%20at%20Kathmandu%2C%20Nepal.%20The%205th%20Summit%20is%20scheduled%20to%20be%20held%20in%20Colombo%2C%20Sri%20Lanka.%20The%20low%20frequency%26nbsp%3Bof%20the%20summits%20is%20itself%20a%26nbsp%3Bpointer%20to%20the%20inadequate%20attention%20being%20given%20to%20this%20organisation%20by%20the%20member%26nbsp%3Bstates.%26nbsp%3B

There%20are%20also%20bilateral%20political%20problems%20between%20the%20member%26nbsp%3Bcountries%20which%26nbsp%3Bimpact%20BIMSTEC.%20The%20issue%20of%20over%20a%20million%20Muslim%20Rohingya%20refugees%20from%20Myanmar%20living%20in%20camps%20in%20Bangladesh%20is%20a%20constant%20irritant%20in%20the%20relations%20between%20these%20two%20countries.%20The%20military%20coup%20on%20February1%20this%26nbsp%3Byear%20also%20adversely%26nbsp%3Bimpacted%20Myanmar%27s%20relations%20with%20other%26nbsp%3Bcountries.%26nbsp%3BAs%20Myanmar%u2019s%20military%20continued%20its%20crackdown%20on%20civilians%20protesting%20against%20the%20coup%2C%20India%20condemned%20any%20use%20of%20violence%20and%20said%20that%20it%20stood%20for%20the%20restoration%20of%20democracy%20in%20the%20country.%20Although%26nbsp%3BThailand%20has%20close%20military%20ties%20with%20Myanmar%2C%20it%20has%20also%20slightly%20hardened%20its%20language%20on%20its%20western%20neighbour%20by%20saying%20that%20it%20is%20%u201Cgravely%20concerned%u201D%20about%20escalating%20bloodshed%20since%20the%20coup.

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20Read%3C/strong%3E%3A%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/pakistan-fails-to-keep-india-out-of-afghan-peace-process%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EPakistan%20fails%20to%20keep%20India%20out%20of%20Afghan%20peace%20process%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

The%20highly%20proactive%26nbsp%3Brole%20being%20played%20by%20China%20in%20most%20BIMSTEC%20countries%20is%20also%20impeding%20the%20growth%20of%20this%20regional%20organisation.%26nbsp%3BChina%20wants%20that%20connectivity%20should%20be%20based%20on%20its%26nbsp%3BBelt%20and%20Road%20Initiative%28BRI%29%20and%26nbsp%3Bhas%20been%20constantly%20trying%20to%20wean%20away%20the%20countries%20which%20draw%20closer%20to%20India%2C%26nbsp%3Bwhich%20is%20not%20a%26nbsp%3Bpart%20of%20BRI.%20Franky%2C%20one%20should%20not%20expect%20any%20change%20in%20China%27s%20attitude%20towards%20BIMSTEC.

Another%20factor%20is%20that%20the%20range%20of%20issues%20taken%20up%20by%26nbsp%3B%20BIMSTEC%20is%20perhaps%20too%20wide.%20It%20covers%2014%20areas%20of%20cooperation%3A%20Trade%20and%20Investment%2C%26nbsp%3BTechnology%2C%26nbsp%3BEnergy%2C%26nbsp%3BTransportation%20and%20Communication%2C%26nbsp%3B%20Tourism%2C%26nbsp%3B%20Fisheries%2C%26nbsp%3B%20Agriculture%2C%26nbsp%3B%20Cultural%20Cooperation%2C%26nbsp%3BEnvironment%20and%20Disaster%20Management%2C%26nbsp%3BPublic%20Health%2C%26nbsp%3BPeople-to-People%20Contacts%2C%26nbsp%3BPoverty%20Alleviation%2C%26nbsp%3BCounter%20Terrorism%20and%20Transnational%20Crimes%2C%20and%20Climate%20Change.%20It%20is%20felt%20by%20some%20analysts%20that%20at%20this%20stage%2C%26nbsp%3BBIMSTEC%20should%20focus%20on%20only%20some%20areas%3B%20it%20should%26nbsp%3Bdevelop%20regional%20cooperation%20in%20those%20select%20areas%20before%20embarking%20on%20others.%26nbsp%3B%20%26nbsp%3B

As%20the%20rampant%20spread%20of%20Covid-19%20has%20shown%2C%20Public%20Health%20needs%20to%20be%20a%20priority%20area%20of%20cooperation%20in%20BIMSTEC.%20India%20can%20play%20a%20leadership%20role%20in%20this%20area.%20It%20has%20gifted%20COVID%20vaccines%20to%20five%20of%20the%20member%20countries–Bangladesh%2C%20Bhutan%2C%20Myanmar%2CNepal%20and%20Sri%20Lanka.%20Thailand%20took%20the%20Sinovac%20vaccines%20from%20China%20but%20found%20them%20to%20be%20not%20as%20effective%20as%20had%20been%20thought.%20It%20is%20using%20AstraZeneca%26nbsp%3Bvaccines%20made%20in%20Europe%2C%20but%20since%20the%20Serum%20Institute%20of%20India%20has%20been%20contracted%20by%20this%20company%20to%20produce%20a%20billion%20doses%2C%20it%20should%20not%20come%20as%20a%20surprise%26nbsp%3Bif%20Indian-made%20vaccines%20might%20soon%20be%20used%20in%20Thailand%20also.%26nbsp%3BAs%20the%20old%20saying%20goes%2C%20health%20is%20wealth%2C%20and%20the%20BIMSTEC%20region%20must%20stay%20healthy%20if%20it%20wants%20to%20grow%20more%20wealthy%21

%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23India%22%20data-user-id%3D%22Bq4MmUPrXF8p%22%20href%3D%22/topic/india%22%3E%23India%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23SriLanka%22%20data-user-id%3D%22mjdE0zWttiL5%22%20href%3D%22/topic/srilanka%22%3E%23SriLanka%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23Nepal%22%20data-user-id%3D%22TLybIrGfRHC3%22%20href%3D%22/topic/nepal%22%3E%23Nepal%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23Myanmar%22%20data-user-id%3D%22x75izjbvBGw1%22%20href%3D%22/topic/myanmar%22%3E%23Myanmar%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23Thailand%22%20data-user-id%3D%225yIqpMCqnSui%22%20href%3D%22/topic/thailand%22%3E%23Thailand%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23Bangladesh%22%20data-user-id%3D%2200F4VLmrIMKU%22%20href%3D%22/topic/bangladesh%22%3E%23Bangladesh%3C/a%3E%26nbsp%3B