The countries of South Asia and Southeast Asia that fan out from the Bay of Bengal are important to Japan owing to their geopolitical advantages. This project raises awareness in and studies the potential for comprehensive economic cooperation between Japan and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi- Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMST-EC) comprising such states as India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.
For three years, fiscal 2005-07, major think tanks (Centre for Studies in International Relations and Development of India, Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Thailand Development Research Institute, Yangon Institute of Economics, and Sri Lanka Center for Development Studies) of these five countries and Japanese experts have been conducting joint research centered on India's Centre for Studies in International Relations and Development, the grantee. Research findings have been widely disseminated and focus on BIMST-EC priority fields of trade and investment, infrastructure, tourism, technical cooperation, energy, and the fishing industry.
Over the last three years, six international conferences have been held in Kolkata, Bangkok, Dhaka, Colombo, and Tokyo, attracting representatives of related ministries and agencies, the political and business community, international organizations, and think tanks. In December 2007, 11 people, including think-tank representatives from each country and the director of the BIMST-EC attended a conference in Tokyo, where the state of BIMST-EC country economic cooperation and other upcoming issues were discussed with experts from Japan, the United States, the Philippines, and other countries.
The delegation also met with Japanese Diet members, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, thus fostering mutual awareness of the importance of building ties between BIMST-EC countries and Japan.
The results of this three-year project include 36 working papers and 3 research compilations that are featured online on websites of supporting organizations in the BIMST-EC countries, the grantee's website (www.csird.org.in), and the official website for the network of think tanks formed through this project (www.bntt.org). The research papers have also been added to various databases that contain other research-related papers.
This project, considering BIMST-EC's position in the East Asian integrative process and the shortage of research activities related to the strategic importance of the region for Japan, has provided an abundance of reference materials and useful information. Research findings and recommendations have been widely recognized by relevant individuals thanks to the network of think tanks in BIMST-EC countries built through this project. This network is expected to contribute to future joint research activities in various fields.