New Delhi, Nov 7 (NationPress) Strengthening cooperation in the Blue Economy within the Bay of Bengal region, India hosted the inaugural biennial conference of the BIMSTEC-India Marine Research Network (BIMReN) in Kochi, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday.

As per the MEA, the conference, which took place from November 4 to 6, marked a significant step forward in enhancing regional collaboration in marine research and sustainable blue economy initiatives. It focused on addressing marine challenges, promoting ecosystem health, and fostering research innovations that include establishing scientific networks among emerging researchers, effective management of marine resources, and coherent policy development.

BIMReN, an initiative launched by the MEA in 2024, facilitates institutional partnerships through twinning research grants and split-site PhD fellowships, connecting leading Indian research institutions with their counterparts in other BIMSTEC nations.

“The BIMReN initiative was introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Colombo BIMSTEC Summit in 2022, aimed at enhancing collective research in marine sciences. It is in line with India’s wider regional policy goals under the Neighbourhood First, Act East, Indo-Pacific, and MAHASAGAR strategies,” stated the MEA.

The Ministry highlighted that the biennial conference gathered BIMReN partners to discuss and share insights on the outcomes of BIMReN activities since its inception. To date, the pilot phase of BIMReN has linked 25 institutions and over 50 researchers from BIMSTEC countries.

“The establishment of BIMReN by India underscores its enduring commitment to sustainable fisheries management through regional collaboration in the Bay of Bengal, which contributes 6 percent of the global fish catch and is home to over a third of the world’s fishing fleet,” noted the MEA.

Earlier in April, during the sixth BIMSTEC Summit held in Thailand, Prime Minister Modi unveiled a comprehensive 21-point action plan, outlining an ambitious roadmap for cooperation across various sectors.

His proposals reflected India’s leadership in revitalizing BIMSTEC, aligning with the Neighbourhood First and Act East policies, and integrating into India’s broader Indo-Pacific vision.

Expressing his vision on X, PM Modi stated, "BIMSTEC is a vital forum for promoting global good. It is crucial that we reinforce it and deepen our engagement. In this context, I proposed a 21-point action plan encompassing various aspects of our collaboration."