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Regional Conference on Advancing India’s Rise as a Leading Power D PG Conference Report, Vol. 3, Issue 4 Regional Conference on ‘Advancing BIMSTEC Cooperation’ Colombo | Sri Lanka | August 2-3, 2018 www.delhipolicygroup.org Disclaimer DPG Conference Reports Vol. 3, Issue 4 is produced by the Delhi Policy Group, an independent and autonomous, not for profit think tank which focuses primarily on strategic issues of critical national interest. In keeping with the growing dynamism of India’s foreign and security policy, the DPG has expanded its focus areas to include India’s broader regional and global role and the strategic partnerships that advance India’s rise as a leading power. To support that goal, the DPG undertakes research and organizes policy interactions across a wide canvas, including strategic and geo-political issues, geo- economic issues and defence and security issues. © 2018 by the Delhi Policy Group (DPG) DPG Regional Conference on Advancing BIMSTEC Cooperation Colombo, August 2-3, 2018 CONTENTS Preface and Acknowledgement Abstract of Proceedings Programme Summary Note of Recommendations from Break Out Sessions INAUGURAL SESSION Welcome Address by Ambassador H. K. Singh, Director General, Delhi Policy Group Keynote Address by His Excellency Mr. Taranjit Singh Sandhu, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Special Address by Mrs. Grace Asirwatham, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka Special Address by Ambassador Sumith Nakandala, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka & Former BIMSTEC Secretary General Keynote Address by Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Governor of the Central Bank, Sri Lanka SESSION 1: “TRADE AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION I – BIMSTEC FTA” Abstract of Moderator’s Remarks by Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja, Chair, Global Economy Programme, LKI, Colombo Paper by Dr. A. Didar Singh, Senior Fellow, Delhi Policy Group & Former Secretary General, FICCI, New Delhi Presentation by Dr. A. Didar Singh, Senior Fellow, Delhi Policy Group & Former Secretary General, FICCI, New Delhi Abstract of Presentation by Ambassador Nihal Rodrigo, Former Foreign Secretary, Sri Lanka and Former Secretary General, SAARC Presentation by Dr. Amita Batra, Professor, Centre for South Asian Studies, School of International Relations, JNU, New Delhi Presentation by Dr. Janaka Wijayasiri, Research Fellow, IPS, Colombo Abstract of Discussant’s Comments by Ambassador Dr. John Gooneratne, Former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Iraq SESSION 2: “TRADE AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION II – OTHER ISSUES Presentation of Moderator’s remarks by Dr. A. Didar Singh, Senior Fellow, Delhi Policy Group & Former Secretary General, FICCI, New Delhi Presentation by Mr. Luxman Siriwardena, Executive Director, Pathfinder Foundation, Colombo Abstract of Presentation by Mr. Shiran Fernando, Chief Economist, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Colombo Presentation Ms. Vidya Nathaniel, Economics Team Leader, Verité Research, Colombo Presentation by Mrs. Seevali Wijewantha, Assistant Director, Department of Commerce, Sri Lanka Abstract of Presentation by Ms. Jayani Ratnayake, Economist, Economic Intelligence Unit, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Colombo SESSION 3: “TRANSIT AND MULTIMODAL CONNECTIVITY (ROADWAYS, WATERWAYS, RAILWAYS AND AVIATION)” Abstract of Moderator’s Remarks by Dr. Dayaratna Silva, National Project Coordinator, EU-Sri Lanka Trade Related Assistance, Colombo Presentation by Prof. Prabir De, Research and Information System for Developing Countries, New Delhi Abstract of Presentation by Mr. Rohan Masakorala, CEO, Shipper’s Academy, Colombo Presentation by Dr. Pritam Banerjee, Independent Consultant & Former Senior Director South Asia Corporate Public Policy Deutsche Post DHL Group, New Delhi SESSION 4: “ENERGY, WATER, ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND OTHER ISSUES” Abstract of Moderator’s Remarks by Prof. Prabir De, Research and Information System for Developing Countries, New Delhi Presentation by Dr. Arbind Kumar Mishra, Former Member, National Planning Commission, Nepal Presentation by Dr. Mark Smith, Deputy Director General, Research for Development, International Water Management Institute, Colombo Presentation by Dr. Khin Maung Lwin, Director (Retd.), Ministry of Health & Sports, Myanmar Presentation by Ms. Divya Hundlani, Research Associate, LKI, Colombo Paper by Mr. Shahab Enam Khan, Research Director, Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, Dhaka SESSION 5: “PEOPLE TO PEOPLE CONNECTIVITY THROUGH MULTI-SECTORAL ENGAGEMENT” Abstract of Moderator’s Remarks by Amb. H. K. Singh, Director General, Delhi Policy Group Presentation by Mr. Sabyasachi Dutta, Director, Asian Confluence, Shillong, India Presentation by Dr. Rohan Samarajiva, Chair, ICT Agency, Colombo Abstract of Discussant’s Comments by Dr. Nisha Arunatilake, Research Director, IPS, Colombo Recommendations of Break Out Sessions Speakers’ Profile and Participants List ******* Preface and Acknowledgement The Delhi Policy Group commenced its journey to take stock of the ongoing efforts at Advancing BIMSTEC Regional Cooperation in March 2018 with a focus on reaping the benefits of regional integration and conducting an in-depth analysis of the opportunities and challenges of taking this cooperation forward in the five thematic areas of Trade and Economic Integration; Transit and Multimodal Connectivity (Roadways, Waterways, Road, Railways and Aviation); Energy, Water, Environment and Climate Change; People to People Connectivity through multi-sectoral Engagement; and Advancing Gender Issues in the BIMSTEC region. The conference in Colombo on the 2-3 August 2018 was the third and the final in the series organized by the DPG in conjunction with its funding partner, The Asia Foundation. The conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka was the outcome of sustained efforts and interest on part of many colleagues who contributed in socializing the event and encouraging local participation. The participants brainstormed two-year Action Plans for BIMSTEC leaving behind a lasting outcome of the exercise. First and foremost, we would like to acknowledge the contributions of Ambassador H.K. Singh, the Director General of DPG without whose guidance and leadership this conference would have not come to fruition. We owe a debt of gratitude also to Dr. Sagar Prasai, Country Representative, Asia Foundation, India; and Ms. Diya Nag, Head Programs Officer, Asia Foundation, India for their guidance and recommendations. We are grateful to Asia Foundation for funding support for the conference without which the project would not have been possible. Last but not the least we would like to acknowledge the contributions of the BIMSTEC team in the DPG- Ambassador Biren Nanda, Senior Fellow, DPG, our Research Associates Ms Shulagna Pal, Mr Mohit Musaddi and Ms Gopika Shinghal whose efforts helped steer the conference to productive outcomes. We would also like to thank our intern Ms Aashna John for her contributions to the organization of the conference. Abstract of Proceedings The Delhi Policy Group (DPG) in collaboration with the Asia Foundation organized a “Regional Conference on Advancing BIMSTEC Cooperation”, in Colombo, Sri Lanka on August 2-3, 2018. The conference was the third and the final in the series organized by the DPG. The conference hosted participants from other BIMSTEC Countries such as Myanmar, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka and the discussions were thematically divided into 5 sessions dealing with Trade & Economic Integration, Transit & Multi-modal Connectivity, Energy, Water, Climate Change, Environment & other Issues, People to People Connectivity through Multi-sectoral Engagement and Advancing Gender Issues in the BIMSTEC region. Ambassador H.K. Singh, Director General, Delhi Policy Group delivered the welcome address during the inaugural session. The Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, H.E. Mr. Taranjit Singh Sandhu graced the occasion and delivered a keynote address on the morning of August 2, 2018. Mrs. Grace Asirwatham, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka and Ambassador Sumith Nakandala, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka & Former BIMSTEC Secretary General delivered special addresses during the inaugural session. The Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy also delivered a keynote address in the inaugural session. The first day of the conference focused on the challenges and opportunities in the first three thematic areas of the BIMSTEC regional cooperation, i.e. trade and economic integration (BIMSTEC FTA and other issues); transit and multimodal connectivity; and energy, water, environment and climate change, which were addressed in the papers and presentations of all the participants. The second day of the conference was dedicated to the fourth thematic area, people to people connectivity through multisectoral engagement and a special session on ‘advancing gender issues in the BIMSTEC region’. Further during the day, all the participants participated in the break-out sessions in which they identified three priority areas in each of the five thematic areas, the implementation processes and the likely challenges. The participants formulated a comprehensive two-year action plan for each thematic area based on the outcome of these discussions. The proceedings on Day One began with a brief welcome address by Ambassador H.K Singh, Director General, Delhi Policy Group. He welcomed the distinguished Heads of Mission and all the participants, including academics, members of the think tank community and government officials. He pointed out that
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