In an exclusive interview with the Sri Lanka Guardian, the Secretary General of BIMSTEC – the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, Mr Indra Mani Pandey, stated that the Secretariat has been pivotal in expanding regional cooperation within the Bay of Bengal region. Mr Pandey, a career diplomat, has also served as the Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva. BIMSTEC’s seven member countries include Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, and Thailand.
Q1. You are the first Indian to be the Secretary General of BIMSTEC. How do you foresee the growth of BIMSTEC during your tenure?
I feel privileged to serve as the first Secretary General of BIMSTEC from India since January 2024. As Secretary General, I have endeavoured to ensure that the Secretariat functions efficiently, effectively, and timely in implementing the decisions taken by the member States in close consultation and coordination with them. I am committed to meeting the expectations of the member States from the Secretariat in accordance with its mandate. The Secretariat has been an anchor in expanding regional cooperation within the Bay of Bengal region and will continue to do so. BIMSTEC, comprising seven countries bordering or close to the Bay of Bengal, is a crucial bridge connecting Southeast and South Asia. Despite its relatively small membership, BIMSTEC is home to around 1.8 billion people. Together, the BIMSTEC member States had in 2023 a combined GDP of around USD 4.5 trillion. The BIMSTEC has existed for over 27 years with its Permanent Secretariat in Dhaka, since 2014, for anchoring its activities. It has clearly identified areas for regional cooperation, grouped under 7 pillars, with each member States taking the lead in one of the 7 pillars. BIMSTEC also has its own Charter and well-established institutional framework comprising core and sectoral mechanisms, including Summits and Ministerial Meetings, apart from numerous working groups and expert groups. BIMSTEC is poised to emerge as a vibrant and capable regional organization leading the regional cooperation, in the Bay of Bengal.
Q 2. What are the current issues of priority for BIMSTEC?
BIMSTEC has seven broad pillars of cooperation which are given equal importance by all the member States. While each of the 7 member States is designated as the lead State for one of the 7 pillars, all the member States play an equal role in pursuit of regional cooperation in all the Sectors. Success in forging regional cooperation in various agreed Sectors will bring immense benefits to the member States. Forging developmental partnerships with regional and international organizations to leverage their resources and capacities is also a priority for BIMSTEC.
Q3. The BIMSTEC charter officially started on May 20th May 2024, setting up rules for better cooperation among member nations. Your thoughts on this big step forward?
The Entry into Force of the Charter on 20 May 2024 was a historic milestone as it granted the BIMSTEC a legal personality internationally. Apart from providing the member States with a clear Roadmap for enhancing regional cooperation within the BIMSTEC framework, the Charter has opened the doors of BIMSTEC for forging developmental partnerships with other States as well as the UN and other International Organizations and admission of new Members and Observers.
Q4. Is political instability in Bangladesh an area of concern for you? If yes, why? if not why?
BIMSTEC is an intergovernmental organization, focused on fostering technical and economic cooperation among its member States. It enjoys the requisite support of all its members and remains apolitical in all its dimensions. Therefore, irrespective of internal political developments in member States, regional cooperation within the BIMSTEC has continued to make progress and I am confident that it will further expand and deepen in the future.
Q5. Is BIMSTEC making any efforts to counter terrorism and transnational crimes?
Yes, BIMSTEC has taken several steps toward realizing the goals of counter-terrorism and combatting transnational crimes in the region. Counter-terrorism and transnational crimes are covered under the Security Sector, which is led by India. There is a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (JWG-CTTC), which has six specialized sub-groups, focusing on areas such as countering radicalization, illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, human trafficking, and money laundering. Some of the notable developments include:
• Entry into Force and the ensuing implementation of the BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking.
• Signing of the BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters in March 2022 at the 5th BIMSTEC Summit; it will enter into force after ratification by all the member States.
• Finalisation of the BIMSTEC Convention Against Trafficking in Persons and BIMSTEC Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons in the Bay of Bengal Region.
• Negotiation of the BIMSTEC Convention on Transfer of Sentenced Persons and the BIMSTEC Convention on Extradition.
• Discussion over the draft texts of the BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Drug Control; Five Year Action Plan for BIMSTEC Cyber Security Cooperation; and the Action Plan to prevent Illicit Flow of Funds (IFF).
Further, recognizing the importance of joint initiatives with external partners, BIMSTEC is exploring opportunities for collaboration with UN organizations, like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to address crime and drug trafficking-related challenges in the Bay of Bengal region.
