Jesudas Bell joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1974. His diplomatic postings included Switzerland, Germany, Pakistan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and India’s Mission to the UN in New York. He then worked for the United Nations in peacekeeping for several years, in Cambodia, Somalia, Former Yugoslavia and East Timor. He took early retirement from government service in 1997.
Mr. Bell is now President and CEO of Futurelinks International, a business consultancy company based in Singapore, with its primary focus on advising Indian companies interested in projects and other business in Southeast Asia.
Disclaimer: External experts are not affiliated with Gateway House and have been presented here for reference only.
Expertise
Business, Foreign Policy Analysis, South East Asia
Myanmar, currently listed as one of the least developed nations by the UN, provides its neighbouring countries the opportunity to invest in one of the world’s last few business frontiers. Sushma Swaraj on her maiden visit to Nay Pyi Taw should continue to strengthen ties based on economic goals to develop largely underdeveloped areas along the common border as well use Myanmar’s increasing weight in the ASEAN grouping
The steps taken by the Indian government to enable private sector involvement in ASEAN have been hesitant. After the recent ASEAN summit in New Delhi, it is time for greater coordination of Indian private industry with government-to-government interaction, which will benefit all members, including India.
As India and the world welcome the recent democratization of Myanmar, this presents India an opportunity to increase its access to South East Asian countries as well, especially with members of ASEAN which still have catching up to do – particularly Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
