"To advance its "Look East" policy, India used multilateralism as a primary tool. Apart from becoming a dialogue partner of ASEAN, New Delhi also took part in other organizations, such as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral and Technical Cooperation (BIMSTEC). Encompassing more than 20 percent of the world population in seven countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand) and a combined GDP exceeding US$1 trillion, BIMSTEC had the potential to emerge as a meaningful economic bloc, were its aim of facilitating and improving ties between member countries realized. Apart from economic integration, which remains the organization?s top priority since its creation in June 1997, BIMSTEC has also diversified to counter-terrorism, energy, agriculture, technology, transport and communication, anti-narcotic measures, and handling of refugees, among others. However, BIMSTEC?s performance during the last ten years portrays it as an extremely inefficient sub-regional body, mired in politico-bureaucratic complexities..."