BIMSTEC at 17: An Assessment of its Potential

Abstract

Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, the inter-regional mechanism which was initiated primarily as a combination of India’s Look East Policy and Thailand’s Look West Policy, need to be reviewed in terms of achievements and difficulties faced so far as it has already completed first 16 years of existence. This article aims to identify its shortfalls and positive aspects in order to understand its potential, if there are any.