CIMP director V. Mukunda Das and (right) former foreign secretary Shyam Saran at the inauguration of the centre on Saturday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Dec. 22: Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP) today started Centre for South Asian Studies with an aim to bolster the state’s economy and forge financial ties with Saarc countries.

Former foreign secretary Shyam Saran, who inaugurated the centre on the CIMP campus, said: “Physical boundaries need to be reduced to promote trade.” Citing examples of Bihar and Nepal, he added that infrastructure along the border should be developed and railway linkages strengthened.

“Today, the biggest challenge is governance. I think institutions that are supposed to govern are not functioning. However, Bihar has improved because of governance,” Saran said. He added that CIMP students have immense potential and they should visit the areas along the state’s border with Nepal.

CIMP director V. Mukunda Das said: “The Centre for South Asian Studies is being set up to facilitate research and discussions on business opportunities in Saarc countries. One also has to see how these would develop Bihar’s economy through commercial and economic linkages.”

He added: “Bihar has a competitive advantage over other states in terms of location and proximity with the Saarc countries. We have to find out products that can be exported and imported from these countries to reap gains.”

“Similarly, there have to be industrial collaborations between Bihar and these countries. There can be ample gains on both sides through such measures,” said the CIMP director.

Centre in-charge Vyuptatesh Sharan said some researches were conducted in the past at the UN and some institutes in New Delhi. “But these studies have not focused on Bihar. There have to be studies on Bihar and the SAARC countries,” he said.

I.N. Mukherjee, former dean, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi, also attended the event.