The ability of the South and South-East Asian countries to develop meaningful cooperation was called into question by the Minister of Tourism, Milinda Moragoda, who also indicated politicians lack the idealism and passion required to turn the idea into a reality.

Moragoda made these statements at a meeting on Friday to discuss the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectorial Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), which is now receiving the support of Japan.

The Minister addressed the gathering as its chief  guest, asking whether the initiative could, realistically, ever work.  “I was skeptical to come here”, he admitted.  “I asked myself can you have an organization coming together that has passion without an underlying political orientation”.

Yet, in a twist of events, the Minister turned the skepticism inwards, noting politicians often lack idealism in such matters.  “So may be if I take off my politician’s hat and bring in some idealism I can see the beauty of the vision”, he said.

BIMSTEC is an initiative a vision to promote intra-regional trade and cooperation between member countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. 

There are thirteen areas of priority for cooperation including sectors such as a Technology, Energy, Tourism, Fisheries, Public Health, Counter terrorism, Transport and Communications.

Ideas such as an Asian superhighway and continuous rail link are just some of the ideas held under this vision.  At present, however, the initiative is filled with passion as opposed to meaningful outcomes.  According to Dr. Saman Kelagama, Executive Director of the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) in Sri Lanka which organized the meeting. “The start for deep economic cooperation has been slow compared to some other regional groupings”.

For instance, while a free trade agreement (FTA) was proposed amongst  member countries in 2004, this is still to come to fruition although dialogue is ongoing.

In order to inject fresh enthusiasm into the group, the members are now looking to Japan, which has friendly relations with the BIMSTEC countries and which has recently entered into agreements with the two largest partners in the region-India and Thailand.

It is hoped that Japanese innovation in areas such as technology, health and education in particular will offer opportunities to existing members to stimulate intra-regional trade and investment.

Moragoda, keeping his politician’s hat lowered, expressed hope that Japan could propel the initiative to action.  “Japan has a stake in this region in different ways as a donor, trader, investor and technology transferor as well as sharing cultural similarities”, he said.  “So may be one has to look at the idealistic side to see how Japan could rejuvenate the process”.

The day long meeting was organized by the Institute of Policy Studies Sri Lanka and the Centre for Studies in International Relations & Development of India with presentations on the Sri Lankan perspective on Japan’s involvement in BIMSTEC forming the focus of discussion.