BIMSTEC SUMMIT 2018 - KATHMANDU

BASICS:

 BIMSTEC - Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic cooperation.

 Image result for bimstec summit 2018

Multi-Sectoral , means the countries which are involved here work on many sectors like counter-terrorism, culture, science,economic cooperation.

 The BIMSTEC Member States:
  • Bangladesh
  • India
  • Myanmar
  • Sri-Lanka
  • Thailand
  • Bhutan (Land-Locked)
  • Nepal (Land-Locked)
Image result for bimstec countries on map
BACKGROUND

 BIMSTEC story is somewhat similar to BRICS , as Earlier BRICS is called as only BRIC and later on South Africa (S) became member and called as BRICS.

 Similarly story for BIMSTEC -
  • In June,1997 It's BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, SriLanka, and Thailand Economic cooperation )
  • Dec 1997 Myanmar become full member  then rename to BIMSTEC
  • In 2004 - Nepal & Bhutan became full members.
First Summit in 31st July 2004

 BIMSTEC PRIORITY SECTORS

 Currently, There are 14 Priority sectors 
  1. Transport & Communication  - India
  2. Tourism - India
  3. Counter Terrorism - India
  4. Environment & Disaster Management - India
  5. Energy - Myanmar
  6. Public Health - Thailand
  7. Agriculture
  8. Trade & Investment
  9. Technology
  10. Fisheries
  11. Poverty-Alleviation
  12. People to People connect
  13. Climate Change
  14. Cultural Cooperation. - Bhutan
Sectors are divided among nations where they Lead. India lead on 4 sectors and during summit that country primarily focus on that sector.

MAJOR PROJECTS

Under BIMSTEC , Currently there are 3 Projects started. But unfortunately None of them get completed so-far.

Kaladan Multi-modal Project  - That seeks to link India & Myanmar. By this project India is trying to connect the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata with Sittwe seaport in Myanmar by sea.
Sittwe Seaport will be developed by India.
"Kaladan" is a river name which flows both in India & Myanmar.

The Main Idea is movement of cargo vehicles from  West Bengal to Sittwe Port and then Via Kaladan River it goes to North-Eastern States.  via Myanmar and In this way it helps North-Eastern States.

West-Bengal --> Sittwe Port --> Kaladan River (Myanmar) --> Indian North Eastern States 
Image result for Kaladan Multi-modal Project

Originally, the project was scheduled to be completed by 2014, but is expected to be operational only by 2019-2020.
Asian Trilateral Highway Project  connecting India and Thailand through Myanmar.

 This also not completed










Image result for Asian Trilateral Highway

 ALTERNATIVE TO SAARC

 Though, there are many issues in BIMSTEC - Like Projects are not getting completed, But still BIMSTEC is Productive than SAARC.

 Because, In SAARC - Pakistan is there and In BIMSTEC - Pakistan is not there (For India Point of view). This is the reason, BIMSTEC important is more than SAARC.

 SUMMIT 2018 POINTS :

 The fourth BIMSTEC Summit (2018) was held in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal.

 Theme so Summit was - "Towards a Peaceful Prosperous and Sustainable Bay of Bengal Region."

Though BIMSTEC has 14 Priority sectors , this Summit (2018) has proposed two more priority sectors to get them integrated  - Blue Economy & Mountain Economy. 

 A BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is under negotiation along with a customs talks is going on. But no such approval as such.

 Fifth BIMSTEC Summit will be held in Sri-Lanka

Four More information, you can access below links:

 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ten-things-to-know-about-bimstec-summit-in-nepal/articleshow/65602097.cms

 https://www.firstpost.com/india/narendra-modi-at-4th-bimstec-summit-why-the-meeting-is-important-for-south-asia-and-neighbouring-regions-5079171.html

Above Information is as per data available in news till the date when I am posting this.
For Other Topics visit - http://learn2ogether.blogspot.com/ 

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