The Bengal Chamber
Indo-Pacific Economic Conclave

In an era defined by globalization and interconnectivity, the power of regional cooperation stands as an indispensable force shaping the destiny of nations and regions alike. As the world’s challenges grow increasingly complex, ranging from economic competition and security threats to environmental crises and global health emergencies like the COVID-19, the ability of neighboring states to collaborate and forge synergies becomes paramount. Regional cooperation
offers a transformative capacity, transcending political boundaries to foster economic prosperity, ensure peace and stability, and address shared concerns. It is a testament to the profound impact that collective action and partnership
among nations within a given geographic sphere can have on the world stage, where challenges and opportunities are seldom confined by borders. One such geographical area that is increasingly acknowledging the potential of regional
cooperation and integration to address the complexities of our volatile uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world is the Indo-Pacific region. The Indo-Pacific is a comprehensive region encompassing both the Indian Ocean
and the Pacific Ocean, as well as the adjacent landmasses. Its precise geographical boundaries are not rigidly defined, but it generally extends from the eastern coast of Africa, across the expanse of the Indian Ocean, to the
western reaches of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing nations such as Japan and Australia. This region holds significance not only from a strategic standpoint but
also in terms of economic dynamics, as it includes vital maritime routes connecting the coastlines of these two immense oceans.1 During COVID-19 the Indo-Pacific region faced multitude of challenges like the disruption of global supply chains, closure of businesses and SMEs, job losses, reduction in consumer demand, strained fiscal resources among others. Post the pandemic the Indo-Pacific region, just like the rest of the world realized the importance of
developing resilient supply chains and promoting regional trade and cooperation to ensure resilient growth and development. Today the Indo-Pacific Region has emerged as the epicenter of globalsignificance. It is home to 65% of the global population, contributes to 63% of the world’s GDP, represents 46% of global merchandise trade, and holds a
commanding share of 50% in the world’s maritime trade.2 Several initiatives have been taken by the countries lying in the Indo-Pacific region to strengthen regional trade like the establishment of Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor (IPEC),
Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC), Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) Initiative, Quadrilateral Alliance (QUAD), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
(RCEP), etc.