Context

• The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) inaugurated the second edition of BIMSTEC Ports Conclave.

About Ports Conclave

• The two-day BIMSTEC Ports Conclave was held under the auspices of the Visakhapatnam Port Authority.
• Theme: Blue Economy, Innovation and Sustainable Partnerships. 
• Representatives of ministries from port authorities of BIMSTEC member nations of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand participated in it.
• Aim: To operationalise the recently signed BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation (AMTC), facilitate dialogue on port-led development, and foster deeper integration in maritime trade, logistics, cruise tourism, and skill development. 
• BIMSTEC Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre is going to be established under the Indian Ocean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Maritime Transport (IOCE-SMarT) at Mumbai.
•  The Panels explored plans for port-linked industrial zones, digital integration, and sustainable cruise routes, alongside proposals for a BIMSTEC Ports Coordination Centre and a regional Port Community System.

About BIMSTEC

• It is a regional organization established in 1997 with signing of the Bangkok Declaration.]
• It was originally formed with 4 Members (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka & Thailand) with the acronym 'BIST-EC'.
• Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Member States (7): Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
• BIMSTEC Charter: Foundational document that outlines the goals, principles, and structure of the BIMSTEC. It was finalized in the 5th Summit (2022) in Sri Lanka.
  • Charter confers legal personality on the grouping and paves the way for external partnerships and admission of observers and new members.

Objective

• To create an enabling environment for rapid economic development and social progress and maintain peace and stability in the Bay of Bengal region.
• 7 Priority Areas/Pillars (each led by 1 Member country):  Trade & Investment (Bangladesh); Environment & Climate Change (Bhutan); People-to-People Contacts (Nepal); Agriculture & Food Security (Myanmar); Science &Technology and Innovation (Sri Lanka) and Connectivity (Thailand).
• India is the Lead Country for Security pillar under which there are 3 sub-sectors – Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime, Disaster Management and Energy Security.

Significance for Ports Conclave for India

• Advancing Maritime Connectivity and Trade Efficiency: The conclave emphasized the operationalization of the BIMSTEC Coastal Shipping and Maritime Transport Agreements, which is vital for India’s ambitions to become a regional maritime logistics hub.
• Strengthening India’s ‘Act East’ and ‘Neighbourhood First’ Policies: By engaging BIMSTEC countries the conclave reinforces India’s ‘Act East’ policy, which seeks deeper ties with Southeast Asia.
• Operationalizing the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project: The conclave showcased India’s flagship Kaladan project, which connects Kolkata Port → Sittwe Port (Myanmar) → Inland waterway to Paletwa → Road to Mizoram.
• This corridor is a model for multi-modal regional connectivity and vital in improving access to its northeastern states.
• Promoting the Blue Economy and Sustainable Development: The conclave promoted sustainable maritime practices, this aligns with India’s Blue Economy Policy Framework, which seeks to balance economic growth with ocean ecosystem protection.

Way Forward

• While the BIMSTEC Ports Conclave has opened up vast opportunities for India to become the maritime centre of the Bay of Bengal, several challenges — infrastructural, institutional, geopolitical, and logistical — must be addressed. 
• A coordinated push involving capacity building, diplomatic engagement, infrastructure financing, and security cooperation is necessary to translate vision into outcomes.