International Conference on BIMSTEC: What is Achieved and Where to Go?

Organized by

Centre for Studies in International Relations and Development (CSIRD)

&

Institute of Foreign Policy Studies (IFPS), University of

Calcutta

Dates: 12-13 March 2013 Venue: Hotel Peerless Inn, Kolkata

Day 1 12/03/2013

Inaugural Session 10.00-11.30

Chair

Gen B S Mallik

President, CSIRD and President of Control Arms Foundation

Welcome address

Dr Suranjan Das

Vice-Chancellor, university of Calcutta

Special Guest

Shree Saurabh Kumar

Joint Secretary, Policy Planning and Research Division,

MEA, India

Special address

Shree G S Reddy

OSD, ASEAN, MEA, India

Keynote address

Amb. Rajiv Sikri

Former Secretary, East Asia, MEA, India

TEA BREAK 11.30-11.45

Session One CATCHING WITH THE TREND: THE

ECONOMY OF BIMSTEC

11.45-13.30

Chair

Her Excellency, Mrs Abida Islam

Hon’ble Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh

Dr Ajitava Raychaudhuri Professor, Dept of Economics, Jadavpur University

Prof Somchai Ratanakomut Advisor, Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI)

Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok

Mr Sanjay Pulipaka

Fellow, Indian Council For Research on International

Economic Relations, New Delhi

Lunch 13.30-14.30

Session Two TRADE,INVESTMENT &

IMPEDIMENTS

14.30-16.00

Chair

His Excellency, Mr Abhijit Sen

Hon’ble Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka

Dr Partha Pal Associate Professor, Dept of Economics, Indian Institute of

Management, Calcutta

Mr Chandana Karunaratne Research Officer, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka

Mr Tapan Chattopadhay Director, Council For Leather Exports, Kolkata

TEA BREAK 16.00-16.30

City Tour

16.00 to 18.30

Dinner 19.30 Onward

Day 2 13/03/2013

Session Three SECURING THE BIMSTEC

REGION

10.00 to11.30

Chair

His Excellency, Mr Chandra

Kumar Ghimire

Hon’ble Deputy High Commissioner of Nepal

Cdr Rikeesh Sharma Commander, National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi

Prof P V Rao Former Director Centre For Indian Ocean Studies, Hyderabad and

Visiting Professor Nalsar Law University

Dr Ranajoy Bhattacharya

Professor, Dept of Economics, Indian Institute Of Foreign Trade,

Kolkata

TEA BREAK 11.30-11.45

Session Four TOURISM AND CULTURAL

EXCHANGE

11.45-1.00

Chair

His Excellency, Mr Kyaw

Swe Tint

Hon’ble Counsel General of Myanmar

Mr Nihal Rodrigo Former Secretary General of SAARC

Dr Cho Cho Thein Professor, Dept of Economics, Mektila Institute of Economics

Meiktila, Myanmar

Prof Karma Ura Director, Centre for Bhutanese Studies, Thimphu, Bhutan

LUNCH 1300:14:00

Session Five CONNECTIVITY AND PEOPLE

TO PEOPLE COOPERATION

14:00-15:30

Chair

His Excellency, Mr

Prasittibesh Vichipsorasatra

Hon’ble Consul General of Thailand

Mr Nischal Nath Pandey Director, CSAS, Kathmandu, Nepal

Dr Prabir De Research Fellow, Research and Information System for

Developing Countries

Prof Swapna Bhattacharya

Chakravorti

Professor, Dept of South and South-East Asian Studies,

University of Calcutta

Ms Sayantani Sen Majumdar Fellow, MAKAIAS, Kolkata

Vote of Thanks Dr. Binoda Kumar Mishra, Director, CSIRD

Tea/Coffee 15:30