The grouping, Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation needs to reorient itself to overcome several obstacles. Examine (200 Words)
Refer - The Hindu
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 3 years
KEY POINTS
· Established as a grouping of four nations India, Thailand, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka through the Bangkok Declaration of 1997 to promote rapid economic development, BIMSTEC was expanded later to include three more countries Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan.
· The fourth leaders’ summit, held in Kathmandu in 2018, devised an ambitious plan for institutional reform and renewal that would encompass economic and security cooperation.
Obstacles
· A strong BIMSTEC presupposes cordial and tension-free bilateral relations, this has not been the case, given the trajectory of India-Nepal, India-Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh-Myanmar.
· China’s decisive intrusion in the South-Southeast Asian space has cast dark shadows.
· BIMSTEC could not arrange its ministerial meeting as desired. This is due as much to contextual factors as the diplomatic environment prevailing today.
· The military coup in Myanmar, brutal crackdown of protesters and continuation of popular resistance resulting in a protracted impasse have produced a new set of challenges.
· It should consider holding regular annual summits. Only then will its leaders convince the region about their strong commitment to the new vision.
Measures
· People-people contact.
· Frequent engagements at diplomatic level.
· Completing unfinished infrastructural projects like Kaladan multimodal project.
