Indonesia backs Bangladesh’s SEACO initiative

[Homo Sapiens]

https://bdnews24.com/economy/2019/05/18/indonesia-backs-bangladeshs-seaco-initiative
Indonesia backs Bangladesh’s SEACO initiative
Senior Correspondent, bdnews24.com

Published: 18 May 2019 10:00 AM BdST Updated: 18 May 2019 10:00 AM BdST

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Bangladesh has won the support of Indonesia to proceed with its planned South and South-East Asian Cooperation (SEACO) initiative which will be launched in Dhaka in June.


State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam is leading a four-member delegation to Jakarta.

He had a “fruitful” meeting with Foreign Minister of Indonesia Rento Marsudi on Friday and garnered their “spontaneous support” for the initiative, the foreign ministry said.

He also handed over a formal letter of invitation to the Indonesian Foreign Minister for the upcoming conference in Dhaka.

The Rohingya issue also figured prominently in the discussion and they agreed over the enhanced role of ASEAN countries in the repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh.

The state minister reviewed the present status of Rohingya repatriation and briefed the Indonesian minister about the outcome of the latest Joint Working Group Meeting (JWG) in Nay Pyi Taw.

Marsudi said that “a comprehensive response team of ASEAN will soon visit the Rakhine and Cox’s Bazar to prepare a comprehensive needs assessment”, the foreign ministry said.

The delegation also met the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) and Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).

SEACO is a private sector and track-II level Forum of five OIC countries in the region- Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Maldives with an objective of advancing regional economic integration.

The Forum will be the modelled after the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) and will function with the exclusive agenda of economic cooperation among the member countries and their neighborhoods.

Bangladesh has formed the initiative and will host SEACO’s launching conference in Dhaka towards the end of June, 2019. The foreign ministers of the member states along with the public and private stakeholders are expected to attend the programme, the foreign ministry said.

 

[Bilal9]

I have high hopes for this as there are no countries in there with regional rivalry issues, which doomed Bangladeshi-hatched ideas like SAARC and BIMSTEC.

With Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and (less so for) Maldives, there can be quite vigorous industrial and trade exchanges, leading to a EU like situation.

Just Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh combined are a market of nearly 460 million (soon to be half a billion) people. Malaysia and Indonesia are ore developed economies today but labor, consumer goods and industrial exchanges alone hold huge promise.

 

[Indos]

I support this idea, btw where is Pakistan and Afghanistan ?

 

[Black_cats]

I support this idea, btw where is Pakistan and Afghanistan ?

Not included. They also think that they are different species and not related to this block. So win win situation for all.

 

[Bengal71]

Not included. They also think that they are different species and not related to this block. So win win situation for all.

They should not really be included in this block. They are a people of totally different mentality and far away from this region. They should create blocks with the Arab, Iran and Central Asian countries.

 

[Bengal71]

True, tropical Islam do not mix well with desert Islam.

It's more about level head vs delusional.

 

[Nike]

Dont like how everything must to do with religion, this SEACO should taking Thailand and Singapore coorperation too, as they are proffesional and eager partner for every economy, investment and business talks

 

[UKBengali]

Dont like how everything must to do with religion, this SEACO should taking Thailand and Singapore coorperation too, as they are proffesional and eager partner for every economy, investment and business talks

Asean should be replaced by SEACO to include India, BD, Nepal and Bhutan as well as all current Asean countries.

 

[Species]

Asean should be replaced by SEACO to include India, BD, Nepal and Bhutan as well as all current Asean countries.

No need to include India, it will just become another SAARC due to India's Supa Pawa delusions.

I think it's quite perfect the way it is. Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia seem to be forming the core of this group. As I said multiple times before, these three countries could develop an ideal alliance because of shared interest in regional/global geopolitics.

 

[UKBengali]

No need to include India, it will just become another SAARC due to India's Supa Pawa delusions.

I think it's quite perfect the way it is. Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia seem to be forming the core of this group. As I said multiple times before, these three countries could develop an ideal alliance because of shared interest in regional/global geopolitics.

I dont think India could do that as Indonesia is a heavy weight and Malaysia is almost a developed country.

BD, Indonesia and Malaysia together can balance out India.

 

[Nike]

Asean should be replaced by SEACO to include India, BD, Nepal and Bhutan as well as all current Asean countries.

Asean cant be replaced as it was pivot for Indonesia foreign policy to promoting trade and cultural ties in the region and left out commies forces since the ends of 60s decade and we built ASEAN to what it is today from scratch and many challenge

No need to include India, it will just become another SAARC due to India's Supa Pawa delusions.

I think it's quite perfect the way it is. Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia seem to be forming the core of this group. As I said multiple times before, these three countries could develop an ideal alliance because of shared interest in regional/global geopolitics.

Better to including Australia compared to India lol

 

[UKBengali]

Asean cant be replaced as it was pivot for Indonesia foreign policy to promoting trade and cultural ties in the region and left out commies forces since the ends of 60s decade and we built ASEAN to what it is today from scratch and many challenge

I think the problem for Asean is the relatively small size of it's GDP of 4.5 trillion dollars. India's GDP alone would come to 3 trillion dollars. Add in BD with 300 billion dollars and you get 8 trillion dollars. Both India and BD are growing at around 8% a year and so within 10 years Asean(+ India and Bd) could approach EU and USA in total economic output.

This new economic region of 2 billion people can match both USA and EU by 2040 in economic power, although technologically it will be some way behind.

 

[Species]

I dont think India could do that as Indonesia is a heavy weight and Malaysia is almost a developed country.

BD, Indonesia and Malaysia together can balance out India.

The need to balance out a member state itself will be a threat to the cooperation.

India will not add any value to the grouping rather they will destroy the cohesiveness among member states.

Nobody likes to sign FTA with India because of their complex tariff regime in domestic market to support their local industries. Already in BIMSTEC, Thailand has opposed India's proposal of a BIMISTEC FTA while Bangladesh remains indifferent.

As I said we need members who have common interest in regional/global geopolitics and India doesn't fit in here. They will try to make it an anti-China platform which will be against the interest of other member states.

Better to including Australia compared to India lol

India provides with no value rather a threat to cooperation.

I believe SEACO will be a platform where Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia would cooperate with each other to navigate the complex geopolitical scenario in this region as Indo-Pacific is set to be the biggest battle-ground in China-US rivalry.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

problem for Asean is the relatively small size of it's GDP of 4.5 trillion dollars. India's GDP alone would come to 3 trillion dollars.

ASEAN GDP is 3 trillion dollar.

 

[UKBengali]

The need to balance out a member state itself will be a threat to the cooperation.

India will not add any value to the grouping rather they will destroy the cohesiveness among member states.

Nobody likes to sign FTA with India because of their complex tariff regime in domestic market to support their local industries. Already in BIMSTEC, Thailand has opposed India's proposal of a BIMISTEC FTA while Bangladesh remains indifferent.

As I said we need members who have common interest in regional/global geopolitics and India doesn't fit in here. They will try to make it an anti-China platform which will be against the interest of other member states.

Only allow India if it agrees to certain conditions.

ASEAN GDP is 3 trillion dollar.

Makes my point even more.
This block is irrelevant in world and growth is only 4-5% a year and nothing will change even in 2-3 decades down the line.