After years of sluggish pace of growth, the Bay of Bengal Initiative of Regional Cooperation BIMSTEC has emerged as an important vehicle of sub-regional cooperation in South Asia and South East Asia in recent times when the Bay of Bengal region is witnessing a rapid change in its geo-political dynamics. Perceiving the growing importance of BIMSTEC in this region, Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, India, which for long had carried out academic research, deliberation on various socio-economic, political, diplomatic strategic issues related to Indian Ocean Rim Region, organised a two day long international web based symposium in Collaboration of The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on “BIMSTEC: A Vehicle for Growth and Development” from 25-26 October, 2021. The event received support and partnership by eminent Think Tanks and academic forums from BIMSTEC nations like –The Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi, Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, BIISS, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), East Asia Study Centre, Dhaka, Indian Studies Centre of Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), Nepal.

The inaugural session of this International web based symposium commenced with the introductory note of Mr. Arindam Mukherjee, Director, ISCS, India, followed by the welcome remarks of Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi, Director General, RIS, (New Delhi). The subsequent special address was delivered by H.E. Amb. Tenzin Lekphell, Secretary General, BIMSTEC. The session ended with the Inaugural address of H.E. Amb. Harsh Vardhan Shringla. The speakers of this session in their respective deliberations highlighted the history, evolution, significance and prospects of BIMSTEC as a platform of regional cooperation. BIMSTEC region was adversely affected by the ongoing global pandemic. The symposium initiated its academic deliberation by addressing the impact of Covid 19 and the possible mechanism to recover from  this crisis in its first technical session titled “Post COVID Economic Recovery and Restoring Growth Momentum in BIMSTEC” that was chaired by Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, Chairman, South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), Nepal and had distinguished speakers like Amb. Rajiv Bhatia,
Former Ambassador of India to Myanmar, Professor Surat Horachaikul, Founding Director of India Studies Centre of Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director, Centre For Policy Dialogue(CPD), Bangladesh.

The deliberations of the speakers were followed by a meaningful analysis by the discussant Ms. Shrabana Barua, ICSSR Doctoral Fellow, Center for International Politics Organization and Disarmament, JNU, New Delhi where she highlighted and integrated the views presented by the esteemed speakers of the session. BIMSTEC is not only an epicenter of global trade; its member countries have achieved sustained economic growth with a combined GDP of 2.7 trillion dollars. The economic progress of this region has driven the member states for a more robust economic cooperation. Perceiving the significance of trade, connectivity and economic cooperation this web based symposium addressed the issue in its subsequent session titled “Strengthening Regional Value Chains—Role of Connectivity and Trade Facilitation” which was chaired by Prof. Mustafizur Rehman, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue, Dhaka and had the presence of eminent speakers like Dr. S.K. Mohanty, Professor, RIS, New Delhi, Dr. Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director, Bangladesh Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (BIISS), Dr. Paras Kharel, Research Director, South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), Nepal, Mr. Thiam Hee Ng, Director, South Asia Regional Cooperation Division, ADB, Manila. The discussant, Ms. Dikshya Singh, Programme Coordinator, South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), Nepal analysed and synthesised the opinions delivered by the speakers during their respective presentation. The catastrophic effect of the global pandemic compelled the policy makers of the BIMSTEC nations to acknowledge the significance of regional cooperation during health emergencies. On day two this web based disquisition addressed the above issue in its inaugural session titled “Regional Cooperation in Public Health Infrastructure and Health Care Services” which was chaired by Dr. Mannava Maruti Vara Prasada Sarma, Professor and HOD, Department of Community Medicine, Kamineni Medical
College and had the presence of eminent panellists like Dr. Pandup Tshering, Health Secretary, Bhutan, Prof. Shiva Raj Adhikari, Head of the Department, Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Dr. Sanjay Rai, Prof of Community Medicines, AIIMS and National President, IPHA.

The session ended with the analysis of the discussant, Dr. Monika Langeh, Emergency Physician BLK-MAX Hospital, New Delhi, NMO General Secretary, New Delhi who summarized the deliberations of the session through her analytical commentaries. Cyber Security as a non- traditional security threat has emerged as a growing concern for this region. The subsequent session of the symposium analysed this issue through a special address under the title “Cyber Security amongst BIMSTEC nations: Challenges and Prognosis” which was chaired by Dr. Uttam Sinha, Head, NonTraditional Security Centre, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) and had an eminent speaker Lt. Gen. Rajesh Panth, National Cyber Security Coordinator, India. The Bay of Bengal is not only highly prone to extreme weather events which result in massive disaster; it is also vulnerable to a number of security threats like human trafficking, narcotics, exploitation of natural resources, piracy, sea-based terrorism leading the member nations of BIMSTEC to cooperate with each other in the field of disaster management and maritime security. The deliberation on the above subjects came up in the successive session of this web based seminar under the title “Disaster Management, Maritime Cooperation and
Coastal Security” which was chaired by Dr. Asannga Abeyagoonasekera, Academic, Geopolitics and foreign policy analyst, Sri Lanka and had expert panellists for deliberation which included
Prof. Delwar Hossain, Professor of International Relations, and Founder Director of East Asia Centre, University of Dhaka, Dr. Smruti Pattanaik, Research Fellow MP-IDSA, India, Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha (Retd), Former Chief of Integrated Defence Staff & Commander-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.

The presentations of the speakers were followed by the discussion of the discussant Moutusi Islam, Research Fellow, Bangladesh Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (BIISS) where she carefully summarized and evaluated the presentations of the panellists. The valedictory session was addressed by Amb. Dr. Anupam Ray, Joint Secretary, PP&R Division,
Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India, who delivered his special remarks on BIMSTEC: A Vehicle for Growth and development. It was followed by the presentation of the distinguished speaker of the session Prof. Suranjan Das, Vice Chancellor, Jadavpur University. Thereafter, a presentation of the symposium report was tabled by Dr. Priyadarshi Dash, Associate Professor, RIS, and New Delhi. The symposium ended with a vote of thanks by Mr. Krishnendu Bakshi, on behalf of Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, India.