CUTS International on Thursday unveiled its flagship publication, "Compendium on Indo-Pacific region, titled "The Innovative Route to Development: Indo-Pacific Perspective", in a virtual event that brought together senior diplomats, defence experts, development practitioners, and thought leaders from across the Indo-Pacific.
Unveiling the compendium and delivering the keynote address, Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General, BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), stated: "The concept of the Indo-Pacific is not new, but its relevance has grown amid a multipolar world. The region between the two oceans has long served the security and development interests of countries."
"Key players such as China, Russia, the EU, and ASEAN have outlined distinct Indo-Pacific strategies and priorities, yet they all underscore the importance of regional centrality. This compendium seeks to shape the evolving Indo-Pacific narrative and serve as a valuable resource for both state and non-state actors engaged in the region", he added.
In his welcome address, Pradeep S. Mehta, Secretary General, CUTS International, underscored the complexity and promise of the region: "To understand the Indo-Pacific is to engage with its diversity, dynamism, and determination to shape a better future".
Ambassador Pasi-Heikki Vaaranmaa, Finland's Permanent Representative to the OECD and UNESCO, who has contributed a chapter in this compendium, stressed the importance of human development in regional frameworks. "Inclusive growth requires public investment in people, education and skills are key to long-term prosperity. An open world economy is a catalyst for growth, enabling the import of ideas, technology, and know-how," he noted, underlining the role of education and innovation.
This Compendium examines transformative shifts in the region's geoeconomics, connectivity, strategic affairs, and sustainable development. It brings together insights across four pillars: trade & investment, defence & security, technology & innovation and energy & climate change, serving as a valuable resource for policymakers, practitioners, and academics engaged in Indo-Pacific policy and practice. Over thirty distinguished authors have contributed to this publicly available volume.
Bringing in the defence industry perspective and talking about his chapter, Rajinder Singh Bhatia, Chairman, Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd., highlighted India's export-oriented defence ecosystem, mentioning, "Private sector entry sparked a revolution. With INR 26,000 crore in defence exports, the Indo-Pacific offers untapped potential. We must strengthen industry diplomacy and explore this region"
Kim Heriot-Darragh, Research Fellow at the Australia-India Institute, Australia, stressed the importance of integrated security efforts. "In an interconnected Indo-Pacific, armies, navies, and air forces no longer operate alone. They work with civilian counterparts, NGOs, and bureaucracies. Leveraging each other's strengths is not optional-it's essential to ensure our collective efforts exceed the sum of their parts," he observed.
Lt Gen (Retd.) Vijay Singh offered insights on India's evolving joint military posture in maritime and regional theatres, while Lt Gen (Retd.) Anil Ahuja, Distinguished Fellow, CUTS Global Affairs, unpacked the strategic depth of Indo–U.S. technological convergence, mentioning "Initiatives like iCET and TRUST elevate engagement to the NSA level, covering AI, space, and critical minerals, and positioning India as a partner in resilient, innovation-driven supply chains"
Talking about her chapter titled, "Ancient Roots of Bharat", Amrita Narlikar, Honorary Fellow, Darwin College mentioned, "In an era of supply chain diversification and geopolitical flux, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam offers a unifying vision based on shared responsibility, ethical cooperation, and ecological respect", and Scott Jacobs, Managing Director, Jacobs, Cordova & Associates from East Coast of USA on his chapter on innovation spoke, "The Indo-Pacific's young entrepreneurs are its hidden advantage. Regulatory reforms must smooth the path from startup to global unicorn - because the next Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, or Jeff Bezos will rise from this region".
Among the other contributing speakers were Natasha Bhaskar, Executive Director of the Newland Global Group based out of Sydney, Professor Rahul Sen at the Auckland University of Technology, Emily Rees, President and CEO, CropLife International, Rear Admiral (Retd.) Yamamoto Katsuya, Senior Research Fellow, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan, Rubayat E Shams Anik, Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Policy Advocacy and Governance, Australia and Ratnakar Adhikari, ED, Enhanced Integrated Framework Executive Secretariat, World Trade Organisation (WTO).
As the Indo-Pacific becomes increasingly central to global trade, climate action, and strategic stability, CUTS International reaffirmed its commitment to producing knowledge products that bridge evidence and action and to fostering cooperation for a rules-based, inclusive regional order.
This news can also be viewed at: https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/
Unveiling the compendium and delivering the keynote address, Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General, BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), stated: "The concept of the Indo-Pacific is not new, but its relevance has grown amid a multipolar world. The region between the two oceans has long served the security and development interests of countries."
"Key players such as China, Russia, the EU, and ASEAN have outlined distinct Indo-Pacific strategies and priorities, yet they all underscore the importance of regional centrality. This compendium seeks to shape the evolving Indo-Pacific narrative and serve as a valuable resource for both state and non-state actors engaged in the region", he added.
In his welcome address, Pradeep S. Mehta, Secretary General, CUTS International, underscored the complexity and promise of the region: "To understand the Indo-Pacific is to engage with its diversity, dynamism, and determination to shape a better future".
Ambassador Pasi-Heikki Vaaranmaa, Finland's Permanent Representative to the OECD and UNESCO, who has contributed a chapter in this compendium, stressed the importance of human development in regional frameworks. "Inclusive growth requires public investment in people, education and skills are key to long-term prosperity. An open world economy is a catalyst for growth, enabling the import of ideas, technology, and know-how," he noted, underlining the role of education and innovation.
This Compendium examines transformative shifts in the region's geoeconomics, connectivity, strategic affairs, and sustainable development. It brings together insights across four pillars: trade & investment, defence & security, technology & innovation and energy & climate change, serving as a valuable resource for policymakers, practitioners, and academics engaged in Indo-Pacific policy and practice. Over thirty distinguished authors have contributed to this publicly available volume.
Bringing in the defence industry perspective and talking about his chapter, Rajinder Singh Bhatia, Chairman, Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd., highlighted India's export-oriented defence ecosystem, mentioning, "Private sector entry sparked a revolution. With INR 26,000 crore in defence exports, the Indo-Pacific offers untapped potential. We must strengthen industry diplomacy and explore this region"
Kim Heriot-Darragh, Research Fellow at the Australia-India Institute, Australia, stressed the importance of integrated security efforts. "In an interconnected Indo-Pacific, armies, navies, and air forces no longer operate alone. They work with civilian counterparts, NGOs, and bureaucracies. Leveraging each other's strengths is not optional-it's essential to ensure our collective efforts exceed the sum of their parts," he observed.
Lt Gen (Retd.) Vijay Singh offered insights on India's evolving joint military posture in maritime and regional theatres, while Lt Gen (Retd.) Anil Ahuja, Distinguished Fellow, CUTS Global Affairs, unpacked the strategic depth of Indo–U.S. technological convergence, mentioning "Initiatives like iCET and TRUST elevate engagement to the NSA level, covering AI, space, and critical minerals, and positioning India as a partner in resilient, innovation-driven supply chains"
Talking about her chapter titled, "Ancient Roots of Bharat", Amrita Narlikar, Honorary Fellow, Darwin College mentioned, "In an era of supply chain diversification and geopolitical flux, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam offers a unifying vision based on shared responsibility, ethical cooperation, and ecological respect", and Scott Jacobs, Managing Director, Jacobs, Cordova & Associates from East Coast of USA on his chapter on innovation spoke, "The Indo-Pacific's young entrepreneurs are its hidden advantage. Regulatory reforms must smooth the path from startup to global unicorn - because the next Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, or Jeff Bezos will rise from this region".
Among the other contributing speakers were Natasha Bhaskar, Executive Director of the Newland Global Group based out of Sydney, Professor Rahul Sen at the Auckland University of Technology, Emily Rees, President and CEO, CropLife International, Rear Admiral (Retd.) Yamamoto Katsuya, Senior Research Fellow, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan, Rubayat E Shams Anik, Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Policy Advocacy and Governance, Australia and Ratnakar Adhikari, ED, Enhanced Integrated Framework Executive Secretariat, World Trade Organisation (WTO).
As the Indo-Pacific becomes increasingly central to global trade, climate action, and strategic stability, CUTS International reaffirmed its commitment to producing knowledge products that bridge evidence and action and to fostering cooperation for a rules-based, inclusive regional order.
This news can also be viewed at: https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/