Troika for India’s northeast region

Why in news?

In the third India-Japan Intellectual Dialogue in Agartala, policymakers focused to bring the troika of Bangladesh, India and Japan closer.

Japan has historical ties with the North Eastern region of India.
Japan attaches great importance to the development of the region in the spirit of trust and friendship.
Japan-North Eastern India relationship and cooperation, aim at promoting the intellectual interactions between Japan and the North East.
The cooperation can bring new opportunities in empowering entrepreneurship in agriculture/Bamboo sector and Fostering People to People Contact.

Matarbari Deep Sea Port (DSP) - It is being constructed with Japanese assistance and is scheduled to be operational in 2027.
The long term vision is for Bangladesh and the northeast to become a hub and key industrial corridor of this region.
Located on the on the southeastern coast of Bangladesh.
Rapid industrialization - To increase the connectivity of roads and railways by Hiroshi Suzuki, Japan’s Ambassador to India.
It also provides job opportunities and connects with Bangladesh.
Creating value chains and manufacturing products - Should encompass diverse sectors such as
- Agro-processing,
- Man-made fibers,
- Handicrafts,
- Assembly of two-wheelers and
- Mobile phones, and pharmaceuticals industries.

Japan being the only investor in the region is unworkable
Lack on Indian companies taking part in the development of north east region
Too much restrictions on the flow of investments from Bangladesh.
Lack of policy coordination among the governments of Bangladesh, India and Japan on the development of north east

Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is self-defeating and Bangladesh must move towards establishing the Bay of Bengal Community (BOBC).
A Bangladesh, India and Japan (BIJ) Forum should be launched at the level of Foreign Ministers, for better coordination.
The policies of north east and Bangladesh needs to be converged.

Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)

BIMSTEC is a regional organization that was established on 06 June 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.
BIMSTEC will be based on respect for the principle of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, and political independence, non-interference in internal affairs, non-aggression, peaceful co-existence, mutual respect and mutual benefit.
The 7 members of BIMSTEC are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Srilanka and Thailand.
BIMSTEC headquarters is located in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

To know more about BIMSTEC click here