Centre for Studies in International Relations and Development (CSIRD) in association with SPF, and four national research institutes of BIMSTEC countries has undertaken a policy advocacy research project on fostering cooperation between Japan and BIMSTEC countries, and will hold an international workshop in December 2005 at Kolkata. Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a sub-regional grouping combining some geographically contiguous South and Southeast Asian countries around the Bay of Bengal.

Papers are invited on any of the following themes related to "Towards BIMSTEC-Japan Comprehensive Economic Cooperation": (a) Trade, (b) Investment, (c) Energy, (d) Transport and Communication, (e) Tourism, (f) Fisheries, (g) Technology, (h) Infrastructure, (i) Information and Communication Technology, (j) Industry, (k) Urban Development, (l) Money, Banking and Finance, (m) Environment, (n) Agriculture, and (o) Services.