AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ‘SECURITY AND PROSPERITY IN THE BAY OF BENGAL’ HIGHLIGHTS HUGE CONNECTIVITY AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Trade and Investment Facilitation

To achieve a higher intra-regional trade in the Bay of Bengal region, the countries should put efforts to reduce trade cost, identify new sectors and products, and link industrial clusters for sourcing of products and services while improving the transport connectivity both land and maritime routes.”  

This was the statement conveyed by Mr. Madhurjya K. Dutta, Director of Trade and Investment Facilitation Department (TIF), and Coordinator of the Mekong-Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF), Mekong Institute (MI), as one of the speakers at the “Fostering Regional Development in the Bay of Bengal region through Trade and Investment,’ session as part of the ‘International Conference on Security and Prosperity in the Bay of Bengal’ on November 29 to December 1. The conference was organized by the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi, with the support of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF). Key discussions focused on conventional and non-conventional security challenges, including Energy Security, Trade and Investment, Technology and Innovation, Blue Economy, Climate Change, and Human Security, among other topics.

Home to around 20% of the world population with a combined GDP of 2.7 trillion USD, the region also hosts vast reserves of natural resources which present huge opportunities for connectivity and investment.

The two-day event was attended by diplomats, government officials, academicians, commentators, industry and security experts, and journalists.

Mr. Dutta took the opportunity of the event to hold separate meetings with Mr. Frank Holfmann, Regional Project Manager and Mr. Jeroen Dobber, European Affairs Manager of FNF to discuss possible collaboration with MI on emerging issues in the Mekong region. The FNF team was positive about exploring prospective engagement with MI and Mr. Frank will initiate the process by introducing it to their regional office in Bangkok for further discussion.

As a follow-up to the event, the conference paper will be finalized and submitted to the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) for publication by CPPR.

Related News

Scroll to Top

Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.