SL urges BIMSTEC members to embrace the ‘new normal’

Consular Affairs
By Editor_1
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COLOMBO – Foreign Secretary, Admiral Professor Colombage, chairing the   21st Session of the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SoM) of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC),  urged member states to embrace the ‘new normal’ in moving forward towards regional prosperity.

Making his inaugural remarks at the first virtual meeting held in Colombo, on Wednesday (2), the Foreign Secretary said  global dynamics will not be the same after the COVID-19 pandemic as it has affected  all State  in various degrees, transforming  from a health crisis  to an economic and human crisis  as described by the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres.

In fact, he said the crisis has affected the very fabric of daily life of BIMSTEC member states as economic activities have slowed down with global and regional value chains disrupted, millions of people have lost their jobs and many pushed into poverty. “Therefore the meeting is timely, as it  is an opportunity to build on the assurances made by Heads of State of BIMSTEC Members on combating the adverse effects of COVID-19 at the 23rd  Anniversary of the BIMSTEC Day held in June 2020,” Colombage said, noting their messages were clear and encouraging as the leaders had reiterated and acknowledged the need to build a better and resilient  organization that could leverage regional cooperation in the recovery and rehabilitation process in post COVID-19.

Given that the region is home to 23% of the world population, Colombage said the devastating effects on the vulnerable sections can cripple economies and divert resources, once used for upward mobility in member states. “The collective GDP of US$ 3 trillion, which was a benchmark prior to the pandemic, should not become an unattainable goal in the face of this devastation”, he said, stressing the goal should be to surpass. In this context, he said  the sector driven organization  should collectively promote trade and investment cooperation, strengthen energy cooperation, increase connectivity and people-to-people contact, focus on disaster management and public health, combat terrorism and extremism, deal with the adverse effects of climate change and work towards poverty alleviation.

As the lead country for Information, Technology and Innovation sector in BIMSTEC, Sri Lanka informed it will put forward proposals that would enhance the use of technological tools in daily life to address post COVID-19 effects and also cater to the demand for internet based economic activities and that the proposed setting up of the BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility, in Colombo would further augment the work Sri Lanka proposes to undertake in the sector.

The 21st SoM was preceded by the Fourth BIMSTEC Permanent Working Committee (BPWC) chaired by Additional Secretary Economic Affairs, Ambassador P. M. Amza of the Ministry of Foreign Relations.

The discussion of the meetings centred on administrative procedures and financial considerations of the organization and preparation and finalization of documents   for the approval at the 17th Ministerial Meeting and adoption at the 5th BIMSTEC Summit.

The Sri Lanka delegation indicated its readiness to host the 5th BIMSTEC Summit preceded by the 17th Ministerial Meeting, as it has earned  the ‘Safe Travels’ stamp from the World Travel & Tourism Council in recognition of the comprehensive health and safety measures the government has put in place. The dates of the meeting are to be decided in consultation with Member States, given that the Member States are in different stages in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Member States commended the work of Ambassador Shahidul Islam, whose three year term as Secretary General will come to an end in the later part of September 2020.   Sri Lanka made special note of his contribution and support during its Chair. The Member States also took note of the nomination of Tenzin Lekphell, as the next Secretary General of BIMSTEC from Bhutan.

Proposed by Sri Lanka, the Member States, observed a minute’s silence in solidarity with the President, Prime Minister and the people of India on the sad occasion of the demise of former President of India His Excellency Pranab Mukherjee.

The Sri Lanka delegation comprised Actg. Director General of Economic Affairs (Multilateral) Anzul Jhan, Deputy Legal Adviser Tilani Silva, and Executive Assistant Kalani Dharmasena of the Foreign Ministry.

-ENCL

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