The Bay of Bengal, bridging South and Southeast Asia, has historically been a corridor of connectivity and prosperity, shaping trade, culture, and livelihoods across the region. Today, it remains central to India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, promising great opportunities for development in the areas of  “Blue economy”,  maritime and coastal connectivity and the security and prosperity of the whole region. It is also one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable geographies, experiencing frequent cyclones, erratic monsoons, and shifting agricultural patterns and home to one in every four person on the planet making it extremely vulnerable to non-traditional security threats.

Asian Confluence has established the Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies in Shillong to promote research, dialogue, and collaboration on the region’s shared future. The centre aims to foster “third space” cooperation amongst stakeholders in the  states and nations of the Bay of Bengal region. With online and physical outreach to policymakers, businesses, universities, research institutions and think tanks, the center aims to enhance visibility, promote informed dialogue and promote trust and collaboration across stakeholders on the manifold issues of the Bay of Bengal that offer both promises and challenges.

Click here for details on the Inaugural Session of the Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies.