Modi to attend Bimstec Summit in Nepal

Aug 24, 2018

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the Fourth Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) regional bloc to be held in Kathmandu on August 30 and 31, an official said on Friday.

Briefing the media here, Preeti Saran, Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry, said that the programme will start with a joint call by the Bimstec leaders on host of the Summit, Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, on August 30 which will be followed by the inaugural plenary.

On August 31, there will be a leaders’ retreat after which the closing ceremony will be held.

A joint declaration to be issued after the Summit is also being worked out, according to Saran.

Bimstec came into existence on June 6, 1997, through the Bangkok Declaration.

It comprises seven countries lying in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The bloc brings together 1.5 billion people, or 21 per cent of the world’s population, and has a combined GDP of $2.5 trillion.

The main objective of Bimstec is technical and economic cooperation among South Asian and Southeast Asian countries along the rim of the Bay of Bengal.

With the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) virtually rendered ineffective as a bloc, largely due to non-cooperation on the part of Pakistan on issues like connectivity and counter-terrorism, India has been giving more importance to Bimstec in recent times.

India is the lead country for cooperation in four priority areas: counter-terrorism and transnational crime, transport and communication, tourism and environment, and disaster management.

Saran said significant progress has been made in cooperation within the bloc since the Bimstec Outreach Summit held on the sidelines of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit in Goa in 2016 in the areas of security, counter-terrorism, transport and connectivity, tourism, environment and disaster management, and people-to-people contacts.

“Bimstec is growing economically and strategically,” she said.

“The strength of the group is in responding collectively in the face of adversity.”

Saran said that Bimstec is important for India in terms of New Delhi’s Act East Policy and Neighbourhood First Policy, with northeastern India acting as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia.

A Bimstec free trade agreement (FTA) is under negotiation as also a customs cooperation agreement and a motor vehicles agreement.

“Connectivity is an important component of our discussions within Bimstec. There are two landlocked countries (Nepal and Bhutan) and for them access to water is very important,” Saran said.

Another area of concern, she said, is human-trafficking especially for Nepal and described it as humanitarian issue.

In the 21 years of Bimstec’s existence, only three summits have been held — in 2004, 2008 and in 2014.

However, Saran said that leaders of the regional bloc are meting more frequently, with the Kathmandu Summit happening just two years after the Goa Outreach Summit.

“Bimstec is yet to establish its own charter,” she said.

“Organisationally, the member countries are also discussing and consolidating its rules and procedures.”

Saran said that the Bimstec Secretariat in Dhaka will assist the Bimstec member countries to draw up its rules and procedures and consolidate the bloc internally.

“I am hopeful that at some stage in the future, it (summit) will become an annual affair,” she stated.
(IANS)

Now, Savarkar’s grandson warns of filing FIR against Rahul Gandhi

Mumbai: Spelling fresh troubles for Rahul Gandhi, the grandson of V.D. Savarkar has now demanded an apology from the disqualified Congress MP besides threatening to file an FIR against him...

Hindu residents create ruckus over special Ramzan prayers in Noida housing society

Tension erupts in Noida after dozens Muslims were obstructed from offering special Ramazan prayers in late evening at a housing society near Noida on Monday, said Uttar Pradesh police on...

Release Amritpal Singh’s supporters in 24 hours or face stir: Akal Takht to Punjab govt

Why similar action is not taken against "those who demand Hindu Rashtra? Punjab Police has said it has released 197 persons out of the 353 taken into preventive custody Will...

EPFO fixes 8.15% interest rate on employees’ provident fund for 2022-23

New Delhi: Retirement body employee provident fund organisation (EPFO) on Tuesday fixed 8.15 per cent interest rate on the employees' provident fund for 2022-23. The decision was taken by EPFO's...

UP: Atiq Ahmed, his brother convicted in 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case

Atiq was allegedly involved in the killing of Raju Pal, who was shot dead in 2005. Umesh Pal was gunned down outside his Prayagraj residence on February 24. Large crowds...

Delhi HC overturns trial court order, frames charges against Sharjeel Imam, 8 others

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday partially set aside a trial court's order dated February 4, which had discharged the 11 accused, including Sharjeel Imam, Asif Iqbal Tanha...

Kolkata minor ‘sacrifice’: NCPCR sends notice to Mamata govt

Kolkata: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has sent a notice to the West Bengal government seeking a report over the alleged 'human sacrifice' of a seven-year-old...

‘Horrendous’: SC on Bilkis Bano case, issues notice on plea against release of 11 convicts

New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice on a petition filed by 2002 Gujarat riots victim Bilkis Bano against the premature release of 11 persons convicted...

Eviction notice sent to Rahul Gandhi to vacate govt bungalow

New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) After being disqualified as a Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi has been asked to vacate his government bungalow in Tughlak lane in Delhi's Lutyen's zone, sources...

Close aide of pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh arrested in Punjab

Chandigarh: As the hunt of 'Waris Punjab De' chief and fugitive pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh is still on, the separatist leader's close aide and gunman, who is an ex-serviceman, was...

Indian Embassy in Kathmandu claims Amritpal Singh hiding in Nepal

Kathmandu: The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has claimed that absconding pro-Khalistan radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh is currently hiding in Nepal and requested the Himalayan nation's government agencies to arrest...

Tunisia retrieves 29 bodies of illegal immigrants off coast

Tunis: Tunisian coast guards have retrieved 29 bodies of illegal immigrants after two boats sank off Tunisian coasts, Tunisian National Guard said. Houcemeddine Jbabli, Tunisian National Guard's spokesman, told Xinhua...

Read Previous

ED files chargesheet against Lalu, Rabri, Tejashwi in IRCTC case

Read Next

Rahul compares RSS with Muslim brotherhood; BJP hits back

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com