Reconnecting the Bay of Bengal Region: Exploring the Convergence of Interests

The proceedings explore how the Bay of Bengal’s economic geography can be re-stitched through corridors, standards, and cooperation platforms that serve shared interests. Participants mapped complementarities in manufacturing, agribusiness, energy trade, fisheries, and tourism, noting that fragmented logistics, regulatory divergence, and shallow services ecosystems keep costs high. Case discussions highlighted opportunities in multimodal transport, cross-border power trade, and digital trade documentation, as well as the imperative of climate-smart infrastructure to keep corridors reliable under extreme weather. The conversation stressed that connectivity must be inclusive—supporting MSMEs, safeguarding the environment, and creating decent jobs—if it is to be politically sustainable. The session concluded that small but steady wins—pilot services, mutual recognition of key standards, and joint marketing for blue-economy destinations—can build trust and unlock larger, longer-tenor investments.