The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) held the BIMSTEC Energy Conclave in Dhaka, with High Commissioner Pranay Verma as Chief Guest. Verma emphasized the importance of enhancing energy cooperation and electricity trade among BIMSTEC countries, and the signing of a MoU on Grid Interconnection is a step towards this goal.
The India-Bangladesh relationship is characterized by increasing cooperation in power and energy, as seen in the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, which transports one million metric tonnes of high-speed diesel annually to Bangladesh in a sustainable and reliable manner. The High Commissioner highlighted the importance of regional cooperation under BIMSTEC in the context of current global uncertainties.
He emphasized that India-Bangladesh relations are an important pillar of BIMSTEC’s cooperative architecture. HC Verma also highlighted the importance of the proposed 765 kV cross-border power interconnection between Katihar-Parbatipur-Boranagar and its potential to revolutionize inter-regional power trade.HC Verma emphasized India’s commitment to accelerating regional cooperation under the BIMSTEC Framework, emphasizing the Neighbourhood First Policy and Act East Policy as cornerstones of foreign policy.