That Neighbourhood First has remained at the core of Modi government’s foreign policy focus has been once again demonstrated post-poll results in 2019.
If SAARC countries had been invited for 2014 oath-taking ceremony, the invitation to BIMSTEC for 2019 implies a clear distancing from if not isolating of Pakistan.
Then the selection of Maldives and Sri Lanka as first ports of call by the PM reaffirms that strong neighbourhood focus of the government.
Its geostrategic primacy vis-à-vis the Indian Ocean coupled with Chinese increasing incursions in the region, cannot be emphasised enough.
With a combined GDP of more than $2.5 trillion and 21 percent of the world’s population, the grouping offers tremendous commercial and investment potential for the country.
According to a report by FICCI, the potential trade opportunity that beckons BIMSTEC nations seems to be as high as $250 billion, as compared to the current trade of $40.05 billion.