On 22-23 September, Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, Gateway House, visited Kohima, Nagaland for the annual North East Summit. The theme of the conference was ‘Connect North East’, wherein they focused on generating ideas and proposals for expanding and accelerating development of this region through greater assistance from the Centre and increased cooperation from countries like Japan.
On the 22nd, he was a panelist in the session on “International Connectivity initiatives”. He spoke about recent developments pertaining to rejuvenation of BIMSTEC as well as progress in the work of the FICCI’S Core Group of Experts on BIMSTEC.
On the 23rd, he chaired a special session called “Regional Stakeholders’ Consultation on BIMSTEC”, where he discussed the evolution of this regional grouping, its modest achievements and constraints, and recent developments that have fueled its rejuvenation and endeavours to strengthen it.