Page 18 - ICWA NewsletterOctober- December 2020

INDIAN COUNCIL
OF WORLD AFFAIRS SAPRU HOUSE

on the progress achieved so far and to chart the The Chair and speakers in the session emphasised
course forward. Chairman, RIS Dr Mohan Kumar how poor connectivity is a pressing problem
highlighted the importance of connectivity and that prevents further trade and investment flows
how the conference should specifically identify the between India and the Mekong countries. Economic
obstacles faced by the MGC countries to further cooperation between India and the Mekong
strengthen economic relations. needed to be enhanced by encouraging regional
The first session of the conference was titled value chains.
‘Shared Culture and Heritage’ and was chaired by The third session on ‘New Economy and Sectoral
Dr Prabir De. The speakers in the session were Dr. Cooperation’ was chaired by Amb. Rajiv Bhatia,
Parul Pandya Dhar, Associate Professor of South Distinguished Fellow, Gateway House, and Former
and Southeast Asian, Art History in the Department DG, ICWA. The speakers in the session were Dr. Huy
of History, University of Delhi; a joint presentation Hoan Nguyen, Vietnam Academy of Social Science,
by Dr. Sudha Gopalakrishnan Director, and Ms. Hanoi; Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director, Entrepreneurship
Niharika Gupta is Director (Research), Sahapedia, Development Institute of India, Ahmedabad; Dr
New Delhi; Prof. Dr. Sophana Srichampa, Chair Reena Marwah, Associate Professor, Jesus and
Centre for Bharat Studies, Research Institute for Mary College, University of Delhi, New Delhi; and
Languages and Cultures of Asia, Mahidol University, Dr. Nomesh Bolia, National Coordinator of ASEAN
Thailand; and Dr. Piyanat Soikham, Lecturer PhD Fellowship Programme, IIT Delhi. The session
in Politics and International Relations at Ubon highlighted how the MGC is not only about cultural
Ratchathani University, Thailand. The session cooperation but is becoming a platform to build
discussed facets of the shared historical linkages partnership in other sectors that include energy,
through civilisational links that exist between India capacity building, industries, education, etc. The
and the Mekong countries. session discussed on how there is a need for the

The second session on ‘Economic Relations’ was MGC to build a multilateral mechanism to address
chaired by Ambassador Sudhir T Devare, Former the emerging challenges areas such as water and
Secretary (East), MEA and Former DG, ICWA. food security, and the ecosystem threat in the lower
The speakers in the session were Mr. Madhurjya Mekong region.
K Dutta, Director, Trade Facilitation Division, The fourth session on ‘People-to-People Contacts’
Mekong Institute, Khon Kaen, Thailand; Dr. Vo Thi was chaired by Amb. Preeti Saran, Former Secretary
Minh Le, Deputy Head, Vietnam Academy of Social (East), MEA. The speakers in this session were Dr.
Sciences, Hanoi, Dr. Truong Quang Hoan, Vietnam Vannarith Chheang, Senior Fellow, Cambodian
Academy of Social Sciences, Hanoi; Dr. Nilanjan Institute for Cooperation and Peace, Pnom Penh; Dr
Ghosh, Director, Observer Research Foundation, Vo Xuan Vinh, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences,
Kolkata; Mr. Pranav Kumar, Head, International Hanoi, Dr. Shristi Pukhrem, Senior Research Fellow,
Policy, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), New India Foundation; and Dr. Rajeev Ranjan Chaturvedi,
Delhi; and Dr. Temjenmeren Ao, Research Fellow, Former Visiting Fellow, RIS. The discussion focussed
ICWA. The session discussed the growing economic on the people-to-people dimension, which is a key
engagement amongst the MGC countries and how to element of the MGC based on the commonalities
further it by undertaking actions such as trade and in folk dance, music, epics like Ramayana, art and
institutional reforms to help accelerate the relations crafts, Buddhism linkages, popularity of Bollywood
especially at the time of the current pandemic. and yoga, ethnic and cultural affinities.

ISSUE : 23 | OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2020 18