South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), in collaboration with the ASEAN Studies Center, Chulalongkorn University, and The Asia Foundation, is organizing the Third Bay of Bengal Economic Dialogue titled “The New World Order and BIMSTEC: Curtain Raiser to the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit”. The conference will be held on 11-12 July 2024 at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. Eminent scholars, experts and stakeholders from Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand will attend the event.

The Bay of Bengal Economic Dialogue was initiated in 2021 and was met with great enthusiasm and appreciation from for senior experts, scholars, diplomats, and practitioners of this region. In continuation of SANEM’s commitment to creating a platform for academic dialogue and dissemination of knowledge, the First Bay of Bengal Economic Dialogue 2021 on “Post-COVID 19 Challenges in the Bay of Bengal Region” was held in 8-11 February 2021, and subsequently the Second Bay of Bengal Economic Dialogue 2022 on “Building Resilient BIMSTEC’’ in 11-12 March 2022.

The dialogue is set against a backdrop of significant global and regional developments. BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), established in 1997, has become a crucial platform for fostering economic integration and collaboration among its member countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The dialogue comes at a pivotal time as the world navigates a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, economic uncertainties, and the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This event will act as a precursor to the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit, aiming to address these challenges through enhanced cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, governance, and socio-cultural linkages. The conference will bring together policymakers, academics, and industry experts to share insights, propose solutions, and set the stage for a more integrated and resilient Bay of Bengal region.

The conference will begin with an inaugural session featuring welcome remarks from hosts, including Professor Selim Raihan from University of Dhaka, Bangladesh and Asst. Prof. Sineenat Sermcheep from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. The keynote session will feature H.E. Mr. Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General of the BIMSTEC Secretariat, providing insights into BIMSTEC’s strategic direction.

Key sessions over the two-day event include:

• Session I: New World Order, Global Challenges, and BIMSTEC
• Session II: Trade, Investment, Connectivity, and BIMSTEC
• Session III: Governance and BIMSTEC
• Session IV: People to People Relations and BIMSTEC
• Special Session on BIMSTEC: Breaking Barriers and Way Ahead
• Session V: Trade and Gender and BIMSTEC
• Session VI: Sixth BIMSTEC Summit and Way Ahead

Don’t miss this chance to gain insights from eminent scholars, experts, and stakeholders from across the region. The event will be broadcast live on Facebook via SANEM’s Facebook page.

Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates and to join the live broadcast: https://www.facebook.com/sanemnet

Download the Agenda