The Nalanda International University, Bihar, India organized a Colloquium on “BIMSTEC and the Bay: Strengthening Maritime Security” on July 21, 2023 at its premises. Prof. Abhay Kumar Singh, Interim Vice Chancellor, Nalanda University welcomed the guests. Amb. C.S.R. Ram, Joint Secretary (BIMSTEC & SAARC), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India was the Chief Guest. Vice Admiral. G. Ashok Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd), National Maritime Security Coordinator, National Security Council Secretariat, Government of India delivered the keynote address.
Prof. S.K. Srivastava, Vice Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, Bihar delivered a talk on “Mapping Security Threats to the Bay”. Prof. Sanjay Chaturvedi, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, South Asian University, New Delhi delivered a talk on “Sub-Regionalizing Maritime Security: Imperatives, Opportunities and Challenges”.
Dr. P. Krishnan, Director, Bay of Bengal Program Inter-Governmental Organization (BOBP-IGO) addressed the gathering on “Redefining Maritime Security: Non-Conventional Threats in the Bay of Bengal in the Context of Marine Fisheries”. He emphasized the need for closer collaboration among the researchers and development professionals in the BOB rim countries so as to harness the blue economy potential of the Bay. Dr. Krishnan also held detailed discussion with the Vice Chancellor and senior faculty members of Nalanda International University on the potential areas of collaboration between the organizations.