South Asian Network on Economic Modelling (SANEM), Bangladesh, and the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKI), Sri Lanka, are delighted to announce the Dialogue on “Enhancing BIMSTEC Connectivity in the New Era”, to be held in hybrid mode, on 30-31 March 2022. The Dialogue, running in parallel with the 5^th BIMSTEC Summit, to be held in Sri Lanka on 30^th March, will focus on a diverse set of issues pertaining to cross-border cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, infrastructure, multimodal connectivity, digital economy, and people to people contact.  The Dialogue will generate an evidence-based discussion with the goal of advancing scholarly exchange across the countries in the Bay of Bengal region.

In the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and new dynamics in regional and international setting, regional cooperation and subsequent integration has gained deeper and newer significance. As an established platform for multilateral dialogue, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is an organization of paramount importance in terms of regional integration. Exploring new channels for effective operation while assessing the existing challenges is essential for BIMSTEC to suit the role the situation demands.

In this regard, the Dialogue will host five panel discussions, each on specific issue pertaining to regional integration and the role of BIMSTEC. Economists, academicians, scholars and development experts from around the countries of the Bay of Bengal region will participate in the panels. Each panel discussion will be followed by open discussion sessions, where participants and panellists will delve deeper into the matters in question. The Dialogue will put special emphasis on holding interactive open discussions in each panel discussion session.

To participate in this dialogue virtually, kindly fill up the following google form: https://forms.gle/c9XjUPGqFSJjXsja6

Details of the Dialogue will be informed via email to those registered.

Please find the agenda of the Dialogue