The Bay of Bengal region, with its strategic geographical location, abundant natural resources, and shared cultural heritage, presents a unique opportunity for regional integration and cooperation among its member states. The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) serves as a crucial platform to promote economic and social development in this region, comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

To advance the regional integration agenda, South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), in collaboration with The Asia Foundation, is organizing the Bay of Bengal Regional Integration Capacity Building Program. This program aims to enhance the capacity of key stakeholders, including government and non-government officials, researchers, academicians, and students, by equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to foster deeper regional cooperation and economic integration.

The training program is structured around six online interactive sessions, each focusing on a critical aspect of regional integration and cooperation within the BIMSTEC framework. Led by distinguished experts and scholars, the sessions will offer comprehensive and in-depth exploration of the topics. Each session will feature expert presentations, followed by Q&A and discussion periods to ensure participant engagement and knowledge exchange. To enhance learning, participants will also receive reading materials and resources that complement the sessions and deepen their understanding of the topics discussed.

Objectives:

Capacity Building: To enhance the understanding of regional integration processes and the role of BIMSTEC in promoting economic growth and development in the Bay of Bengal region.

Knowledge Sharing: To provide a platform for experts to share insights on key issues such as trade, investment, regional value chains, connectivity, governance, energy cooperation, and environmental sustainability.

Networking: To facilitate networking among participants, enabling them to exchange ideas, experiences, and best practices related to regional integration.

Sessions:
– Session I: Regional Value Chains, Connectivity, and BIMSTEC
– Session II: Energy Cooperation and BIMSTEC
– Session III: Environment, Climate Change, and BIMSTEC
– Session IV: Governance and BIMSTEC
– Session V: Trade, Investment, and BIMSTEC
– Session VI: Macroeconomic Challenges and BIMSTEC

Who Should Apply:
We welcome participation from professionals, government and non-government officials, researchers, academicians, and students who are interested in regional integration, economic development, and cooperation within the Bay of Bengal region.

Join us and be a part of this exciting initiative to strengthen regional integration in the Bay of Bengal!

To participate, kindly fill up the following Google form: https://forms.gle/Dp5KjTdMauwGnzSE8

Download the Tentative Agenda