THE SASAKAWA PEACE FOUNDATION

Possibilities for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership between BIMST-EC Countries and Japan

8,000,000 yen [Grant Project]
Center for Studies in International Relations and Development (CSIRD, India)

There are multi-tiered economic cooperation initiatives brought forward in Asia through bilateral or multi-lateral trade agreements. Among other things, a framework of economic cooperation in the Bay of Bengal, with constituents such as India whose economy is rapidly growing and Thailand which has become a more developed country, draws a lot of attention. Japan, on its part, is expected to serve as a driving force in reinforcing intra-regional cooperation within the Bay of Bengal drawing on its previous experiences of working together with ASEAN. In a bid to present policy recommendation for economic cooperation between BIMSTEC (Bangladesh India Myanmar Sri Lanka Thailand Economic Cooperation) and Japan, researchers of five countries listed above will engage in joint studies in such areas as trade and investment, infrastructure, tourism, economic assistance, energy and fishery gaining cooperation of Japanese experts. The result of the research will be disseminated though various media.

In this final year of the project, CSIRD will play a central role and carry out following activities collaborating with Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Thailand Development Research Institute, Sri Lanka Centre for Development Studies, and researchers of Myanmar and Japan.

Study Liaison Meeting held in tandem with Dialogue Meeting (June 2007, Colombo)
Fifteen researchers on behalf of each thinktank will come together to coordinate the study framework for the year. In addition, a session for dialogue will be organized with approximately 20 Sri Lankan policymakers and intellectuals to raise awareness.
Execution of Research (2007)
Under the framework set in Step 1, research such as interviews with policymakers and business enterprises will be carried out.
International Conference (November 2007, Tokyo)
An international conference, inviting about 60 officials of international organizations, policy-making bodies, and representatives of political, business and media communities, will be held. Presenters include the members of the joint study as well as other presenters who have been selected through an open recruitment of papers.
Publicity (2007)
Information will be disseminated through a web site, two newsletters, six discussion papers and minutes of the international conference. Additionally, results of the activities so far will be collected and published.

(Final year of a 3-year project)