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Troika for India’s northeast region

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April 25, 2023

Why in news?

In the third India-Japan Intellectual Dialogue in Agartala, policymakers focused to bring the troika of Bangladesh, India and Japan closer.

What is the role of Japan in north east region?

  • Japan has historical ties with the North Eastern region of India.
  • Japan attaches great importance to the development of the region in the spirit of trust and friendship.
  • Japan-North Eastern India relationship and cooperation, aim at promoting the intellectual interactions between Japan and the North East.
  • The cooperation can bring new opportunities in empowering entrepreneurship in agriculture/Bamboo sector and Fostering People to People Contact.

What are the developments in north east regions connecting Bangladesh?

  • Matarbari Deep Sea Port (DSP) - It is being constructed with Japanese assistance and is scheduled to be operational in 2027.

  • The long term vision is for Bangladesh and the northeast to become a hub and key industrial corridor of this region.
  • Located on the on the southeastern coast of Bangladesh.
  • Rapid industrialization - To increase the connectivity of roads and railways by Hiroshi Suzuki, Japan’s Ambassador to India.
  • It also provides job opportunities and connects with Bangladesh.
  • Creating value chains and manufacturing products - Should encompass diverse sectors such as
    • Agro-processing,
    • Man-made fibers,
    • Handicrafts,
    • Assembly of two-wheelers and
    • Mobile phones, and pharmaceuticals industries.

What are the challenges to development of north east region?

  • Japan being the only investor in the region is unworkable
  • Lack on Indian companies taking part in the development of north east region
  • Too much restrictions on the flow of investments from Bangladesh.
  • Lack of policy coordination among the governments of Bangladesh, India and Japan on the development of north east

What is the way forward?

  • Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is self-defeating and Bangladesh must move towards establishing the Bay of Bengal Community (BOBC).
  • A Bangladesh, India and Japan (BIJ) Forum should be launched at the level of Foreign Ministers, for better coordination.
  • The policies of north east and Bangladesh needs to be converged.

Quick facts

Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)

  • BIMSTEC is a regional organization that was established on 06 June 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.
  • BIMSTEC will be based on respect for the principle of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, and political independence, non-interference in internal affairs, non-aggression, peaceful co-existence, mutual respect and mutual benefit.
  • The 7 members of BIMSTEC are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Srilanka and Thailand.
  • BIMSTEC headquarters is located in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

To know more about BIMSTEC click here

References

  1. The Hindu│ Role Of Japan In North East Region
  2. BIMSETC│ About BIMSETC
  3. Embassy Of Japan│ Japan Relationship With North East Region
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