Remarks by High Commissioner of India Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla at the Institute of Conflict, Law & Development Studies (ICLDS) on ‘BRICS & BIMSTEC Outreach Summit: Security & Development Interface in Regional Calculus’ (31 October 2016)

• His Excellency Ambassador Muhammad Zamir, Former Chief Information Commissioner & Member of the Advisory Council of the President of Bangladesh Awami League & Chairman ICLDS;
• Maj. General (Retd) Md. Abdur Rashid Security Analysts and Executive Director, ICLDS;
• Mr. Abdul Wadud Dara MP, Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Ministry of Food & Advisor, ICLDS;
• Ms. Mahjabin Khaled, Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs & Advisor, ICLDS;
• Mr. Shyamal Dutta, Editor Bhorer Kagoj & Director, ICLDS;
• Mr. Mojammel Babu, Managing Director, Ekattor Television and Director, ICLDS
• Mr. K.M.Zaman Romel, Chairman, Peoples Group & former Director of FBCCI & Director ICLDS

Good morning.

India hosted the 8th BRICS Summit in Goa from 15-16 October, 2016. This was the first time a BIMSTEC Outreach Meeting was organized along with a BRICS Summit where leaders from the 7 BIMSTEC countries were present. (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Thailand).

2.         The BRICS Grouping brings together five major economies of the world comprising almost 43% of the world’s population(3.6 billion people); 22 per cent of the world’s GDP, with a combined GDP of US$16.6 trillion; US$ 4 trillion in foreign exchange reserves; and 17 per cent of the world’s share in trade. All five countries are members of G-20. The term was first coined in 2001 by Goldman Sachs to project that Brazil, Russia, India and China would collectively be the world’s largest economies in the next 50 years. Intra-BRICS Trade in 2015 was to the tune of $250 billion.

3.         The grouping was first formalized in 2006 during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers in 2006 on the sidelines of the UNGA in 2006 and the first BRICS Summit was held in Russia in 2009. South Africa joined the grouping in 2011. India hosted its first BRICS Summit in 2012 and 2016 was the second time India hosted the meeting.

4.         The BRICS grouping is not merely an economic grouping but also represents a new approach to global governance in the 21st century: it aims to look at ways to address the challenges confronting the world and work towards a more equitable and global architecture. BRICS nations have conducted their business based on non-interference, equality and mutual benefit. Terrorism is one of the main challenges that the world faces today and during this year’s BRICS-BIMSTEC Summit, leaders of the world exchanged views on how to confront this challenge recognizing that it threatens the whole of humanity and needs to be tackled collectively.

5.         The practice of BRICS-Outreach Dialogue was initiated by South Africa at the 5th Summit in Durban in 2013 through a retreat of the BRICS leaders with invited African leaders. The practice has continued since then. Last year, at Ufa, when Russia hosted the Summit Leaders of Eurasian Economic Community and Turkmenistan were invited. The Outreach to BIMSTEC leadership was historical. BIMSTEC member countries share the same objectives- of alleviating poverty, economic development and improvement of quality of life of their peoples. BIMSTEC countries are working towards improving connectivity, cooperation and people-to-people contacts among themselves. There are many synergies between regional groupings like BIMSTEC and the Outreach Meeting was an opportunity to renew friendship with BIMSTEC countries as well as to jointly explore possibilities of expanding trade and commercial ties and investment cooperation between BRICS and BIMSTEC countries, while advancing the common goals of peace, development, democracy and prosperity.

6.         India took over the Chairmanship of BRICS from Russia in February 2016. The theme for India's BRICS Chairmanship in 2016 was Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions (BRICS). India organized 115 events during our Chairmanship which included Parliamentary, Ministerial, Official, Track-II initiatives.  India adopted a five pronged approach captured by 'IIIC or 4C' during its Chairmanship of BRICS in 2016- (i) institution building to further deepen and sustain BRICS cooperation, (ii) implementation of the decisions flowing from previous Summits, (iii) integrating and tapping synergies among the existing co-operation mechanisms, (iv) innovation i.e. new cooperation mechanisms on G2G, Track-II, B2B and P2P levels to tap the full potential of BRICS Cooperation and (v) continuity i.e. continuation of mutually agreed existing BRICS cooperation mechanisms. The focus during India's BRICS Chairmanship was on people-to-people contacts and a number of events such as the BRICS Film Festival; the Under 17 Football Tournament; Youth Summit, etc., were organized through the year to strengthen these.

7.         The Goa Declaration was adopted by the BRICS Leaders at the end of the Summit. Key initiatives of the 8th BRICS Summit included a BRICS Rating Agency to complement the New Development Bank, the Railways Research Network and the Agriculture Research Platform to take forward the agenda of common and mutual benefit. The leaders noted with satisfaction the operationalization of the New Development Bank (NDB) and of the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA), which contributes greatly to the global economy and the strengthening of the international financial architecture; the progress in operationalizing the Africa Regional Centre (ARC) of the NDB of BRICS; the approval of the first set of loans by the New Development Bank (NDB), particularly in the renewable energy projects in BRICS countries and NDB's issuance of the first set of green bonds. The breadth and focus of discussions of the 8th BRICS Summit was widened and there was a strong sense of realisation that global development and peace depend on continued peace and security. In this context, the first BRICS Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was held on 14 September 2016 in New Delhi.

8.         BIMSTEC encompasses two fastest growing regions of the world – South Asia and South East Asia. The idea of BIMSTEC was conceived by Thailand during the financial crisis of South East Asia in 1997. BIMSTEC comprises of 1.5 billion people, which amounts to 21 percent of global population; has a combined GDP of US$ 2.5 trillion; and has a potential for economic opportunities worth US$ 43 – 59 billion. It aims at rapid economic development, accelerated social progress and active collaboration. 

9.         The leaders, heads of states and heads of government of the BIMSTEC countries also met informally in a retreat setting during the Outreach Meeting on 16 October. During the discussions in the BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Meeting all leaders emphasized how it was important to fight the scourge of terrorism. They recognized that terrorism continues to remain the single most significant threat to peace and stability in our region and reiterated their strong commitment to combat it in all its forms and manifestations. They stressed that there could be no justification for acts of terror on any grounds whatsoever. The leaders recognized that the fight against terror should not only seek to disrupt and eliminate terrorists, terror organizations and networks but also identify, hold accountable and take strong measures against States which encourage, support and finance terrorism and provide sanctuary to terrorists. Information Intelligence Sharing and annual meeting of our National Security Chiefs was yet an important outcome that was decided by our leaders.

10.       At the Outreach Meeting, our leaders recognized the importance of connectivity for economic development of our region. There were several important outcomes from the Meeting. One was the BIMSTEC framework agreement on Transit, Trans-shipment and Movement of Vehicular Traffic. The other one was to work towards the BIMSTEC Trade Facilitation Agreement. The next was to have an annual exercise on BIMSTEC Disaster Management. We are all disaster ridden countries. All of us at some stage or the other face natural disasters and so this is a very important element of cooperation and our leaders gave us the direction to work for cooperation in this sector.

11.      The BIMSTEC leaders also agreed to fast track the BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement talks. It was also decided that we should initiate talks on BIMSTEC Coastal Shipping Agreement and expand BIMSTEC Energy Trade cooperation, set up a BIMSTEC Centre for Technology Transfer, a BIMSTEC Economic, Technical and Infrastructure cooperation. There were discussions on BIMSTEC mutual assistance on customs matters. This connects to the decision to move forward on Trade Facilitation Agreement. Mutual assistance in customs matters also forms a very important component of trade facilitation.

Agriculture co-operation was another thrust area and Agriculture cooperation and the BIMSTEC leaders decided to set up a BIMSTEC Eminent Persons Group so that they can provide new energy, new ideas on how to further rejuvenate this grouping.

12.       Other elements of co-operation which are reflected in the Outcome Document of the BIMSTEC Retreat Meeting were co-operation in the sustainable development of fisheries which is important for food security and sustainable livelihoods in our region; exploring opportunities of co-operation in the development of blue economy especially in areas such as aquaculture, coastal shipping, eco-tourism, etc; co-operation in the energy sector aimed at the early operationalization of  BIMSTEC Energy Centre and signing of Agreement on Grid Interconnection.

13.       The breadth and scope of co-operation among BIMSTEC countries is immense-it is founded on common aspirations of regional development and shared premise of peace and stability in the region. The Outreach to BIMSTEC countries and the Outcome Document of the Outreach has certainly set an ambitious agenda ahead of us, one that will call for close co-operation between member states for early implementation. It has the potential to transform our region and we need to work together towards this goal.

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