India’s Role in BIMSTEC

GS2 – International Relations – International Organisations

During the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, the Indian Prime Minister unveiled a series of India-led initiatives aimed at deepening regional cooperation.

Major Indian Initiatives Under BIMSTEC

1. Human Resource Development – BODHI Initiative
   India launched the BIMSTEC for Organised Development of Human Resource Infrastructure (BODHI) programme, aiming to offer advanced training to students from BIMSTEC nations at institutions like Nalanda University and the Forest Research Institute.
2. Sectoral Centres of Excellence
   India will establish dedicated BIMSTEC Centres of Excellence focused on:

• Disaster risk reduction
• Maritime transportation
• Traditional medicine systems
• Agricultural advancement and farmer training

3. Trade and Economic Partnerships

• A feasibility study on trade using local currencies is in progress.
• India will establish a BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce to facilitate business interaction.
• The Annual BIMSTEC Business Summit will be hosted by India to boost regional economic ties.

4. Security and Space Collaboration

• India is set to host the inaugural BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting.
• Key agenda points include cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, human trafficking, and space technology cooperation, particularly in satellite development and data sharing.

5. People-to-People & Cultural Engagement
   India has proposed several initiatives to strengthen socio-cultural bonds:

• Young Leaders’ Summit
• Regional Hackathon
• BIMSTEC Visitors Programme
• Athletics Meet (2025)
• BIMSTEC Games (2027)
• Traditional Music Festival to be held in India

6. Energy & Physical Connectivity

• The BIMSTEC Energy Centre, based in Bengaluru, has been made operational.
• India has also proposed cross-border electric grid connectivity to enhance regional energy integration.

7. Digital Public Infrastructure & Fintech Cooperation

• A pilot assessment of digital infrastructure across BIMSTEC nations is underway.
• India has put forward a proposal to integrate the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with other regional digital payment platforms, promoting financial inclusion and seamless transactions.