BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

TECHNOLOGY CO-OPERATION AMONG THE BIMST-EC COUNTRIES : ISSUES, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Author: Mahendra P. Lama

DOI Link: https://www.doi.org/ BIISSj2003v24n3a1

ABSTRACT

The Science and Technology as a strategic variable for socio-economic development planning has been well recognised by the development planners and thinkers alike. The emphasis on Research and Development activities with more and more resources set aside for this purpose has both strengthened the process of re-skilling the work force and reinforced the competitive edge of the industrialised economies. On the other hand, the developing economies are caught in the process of a vicious circle of poverty contributing to low investment in technology resulting in low productivity. If the South is to benefit from the advances of the world, this state of affairs needs to be changed to its advantage. Despite gains achieved in the BIMST-EC region consisting of Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand, especially during the last two decades, these countries fall under a category of developing region with vast unexploited potentials for development. In order to explore the vast potentials for development, for the countries in the BIMST-EC region, the development of scientific and technological institutions, and manpower must be an important objective in national and collective planning for the future. For this, co-operation among them is of crucial importance. This article deals with some of the issues, challenges and opportunities that characterise the technology co-operation among the BIMST-EC countries. It also discusses the prospects for co-operation in software and information technology at the regional as well as inter-regional levels and finally deals with the policy options aimed at harnessing these opportunities.