The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a sub-regional economic grouping comprising seven geographically contiguous (both littoral and peripheral) South and Southeast Asian nations. Consisting of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan, the grouping held its first summit in 2004 in attempt to bridge the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. The Third BIMSTEC Summit of the Heads of States or Governments was held from 1 to 4 March in Myanmar's new capital, Naypyidaw, with leaders reaffirming their commitment to accelerating the pace of regional integration and bringing prosperity to the people in their respective nation states. India's then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh underscored the relevance of BIMSTEC, stating that "Ours is a natural grouping of countries. We are bound by geography and linked by history… Our culture, religions and architecture bear eloquent testimony to our ancient bonds."
The idea of BIMSTEC was first mooted by Thailand in 1997 as part of its 'Look West Policy', and was immediately appreciated by India, largely because of the vast commonalities with its own 'Look East Policy' (LEP) unveiled six years earlier. At the time, BIMSTEC provided New Delhi a regional platform able to address a range of security concerns, as well as the opportunity to counter the underdevelopment of border regions, particularly in the country's Northeast. The states of the region – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim – share international boundaries with Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan, which are all members of BIMSTEC. That BIMSTEC's potential remains only partially realised demands greater leadership on the part of India.
The Northeast and Myanmar
Arguably, India's primary objective within BIMSTEC is to develop the Northeastern region by integrating it with existing trade networks while capitalising on future opportunities. According to the Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, BIMSTEC could be a "potential game changer" for the Northeast's overall development. While considering the potential of BIMSTEC to bring trade, transport, tourism and other linkages to the states of the Northeast, the foreign secretary, prior to the third summit, said, "It is in our interest to make sure that our northeast does not fall behind, that it develops as well in a manner that is commensurate to its potential."
To this end, Myanmar is crucial to India's economic engagement with Southeast Asian countries. The country shares a 1643 kilometre border with the Northeastern states of Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. Under the Indo-Myanmar Trade Agreement of 1994 (which has resulted in increased bilateral trade ever since), formal border trade is conducted through the designated custom posts at Moreh in Manipur to Tamu in Myanmar, and Zokhawthar (also known as Champhai) in Mizoram to Rih in Myanmar, while an Integrated Check Post at Moreh-Tamu trade point is expected to be completed in 2015.