Bimstec to emerge as greatly potential bloc

Bimstec Secretary General Sumith Nakandala yesterday said the Bay of Bengal regional cooperation is bound to succeed as the regional bloc will emerge as an effective, pragmatic and sustainable organisation benefiting vast people.

"Much has been done. We have concrete achievements. Bay of Bengal regional cooperation is bound to succeed. I am a firm believer that it will be a reality," he told the UNB in an interview at his office sharing his mixed feelings about the activities of the 20-year-old organisation.

Nakandala, however, acknowledged that they could not yet conclude the Bimstec Free Trade Agreement (FTA), even though the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec), established on June 6, 1997 has entered the third decade since its establishment.

"This is one of the unresolved things. I think, with the renewed political commitment, as seen at Bimstec Retreat in Goa, we are now poised to achieve that as early as possible," said he.

Nakandala, also a former Sri Lankan diplomat, said this is the kind of focus area on which all need to work in a cooperative manner to translate the directives given by Bimstec leaders.

"We are living in a highly interconnected world and information and technology enhance that connectivity," he said, highlighting the benefits of regional cooperation.

Nakandala said such cooperation will ultimately benefit the people of the region improving their lifestyle, bringing in prosperity and holistic human security.

Citing the establishment of its Secretariat in Dhaka as one of the biggest achievements, the secretary general said it bought momentum in Bimstec's activities.

Two multilateral documents are ready for signing now -- one is Bimstec MoU on Trans-grid Connections and another is mutual legal assistance on criminal matter ahead of the fourth Bimstec Summit to be held in Nepal this year.

"We are in touch with our leaders in Nepal, and we are looking for a convenient date for the fourth Summit," he added.

Responding to a question, he said the draft on Bimstec Motor Vehicle Agreement has been circulated among its member states. "We are planning to resume the first round of talks on the issue as early as possible."

Asked about a perception that India-China rivalry holding back Bimstec, Nakandala ruled  it out saying, "No, no. I do not subscribe to that view at all. There is nothing that is holding back Bimstec."

Appreciating Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts, he said India is the largest economy and largest country in the region and Prime Minister Modi has effectively taken the leadership in steering Bimstec.

About former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga's observation made recently on Bimstec he said, "I was there. I heard what she said. She was not quoted properly."

A leading online newspaper quoting Chandrika ran a story headlined 'Saarc, Bimstec inactive, ineffective'.

About blue economy area, Nakandala said cooperation in this new area is needed which will benefit the regions and its people.

Stressing the importance of Bimstec, he said despite ups and downs, this regional grouping has certain achievements in some areas though not much has been done in many areas.

"It takes time," he said, adding that the European Union and Asean also took lot of times to reap benefits.

Bimstec is a regional organisation comprising seven Member States - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand - lying in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal constituting a contiguous regional unity.

To create an enabling environment for rapid economic development through identification and implementation of specific cooperation and accelerate the economic growth and social progress in the sub-region through joint endeavors in a spirit of equality and partnership are some of the objectives of Bimstec.