Multilateral Co-operation
Colombo Process (CP)
The Colombo Process, established in 2003, is a 12-member regional consultative process on the management of overseas employment and labour mobility. It is made up of labour sending countries in South and Southeast Asia. In addition to India, member countries include, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. India is the current Chair of the Process, and assumed this role in May 2024 for a 2-year term (2024-2026). Under its Chair, India is to to host the Colombo Process Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM), as well as the Ministerial Meeting. These meetings were to be the first in-person meetings of the Colombo Process since COVID-19 and therefore, hold great significance for India. The 5th SOM was held in Nepal in 2018.
Abu Dhabi Dialogue
Established in 2008, the ADD is a regional, voluntary and non-binding consultative Process consisting of 11 Member States of the Colombo Process and 6 Gulf countries. The permanent secretariat is provided by the United Arab Emirates, and the current chair is Pakistan The 7th Ministerial Consultation of the ADD was held at Dubai in February 2024. The Indian delegation was led by Secretary (CPV&OIA). India is a member of the ADD Advisory Committee. The 9th Ministerial Consultation was held in Abu Dhabi on 31 January to 1 February 2026.
Budapest Process
Established in 1993, the Budapest Process is an interregional dialogue on migration. It includes over 50 governments and numerous international organisations. It is chaired by Turkey and co-chaired by Hungary since 2006. Currently, India is an Observer State.
Bali Process
Established in 2002, the Bali Process is a regional, voluntary and non-binding forum to strengthen cooperation on issues relating to human trafficking, people smuggling and related transnational crimes. It is a 45-Member State multilateral forum. The Bali Process is co-chaired by the Foreign Affairs Ministers of Australia and Indonesia.
International Migration Review Forum (IMRF)
The inaugural IMRF to review GCM implementation took place from 17 to 20 May 2022, under the auspices of the General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The IMRF was chaired by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the seventy-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly. It consisted of four interactive multi-stakeholder round tables, a policy debate, and a plenary providing an opportunity for countries to share their migration-related best practices. In 2022, the Indian delegation was led by Sh. V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs. The next IMRF is scheduled for 5-8 May 2026 in New York. The stakeholders’ consultations in the run up to IMRF was held in February 2026 by MEA and IOM in New Delhi. The Voluntary National Review Report was submitted by India for the first time to the UN Network on Migration. The second IMRF is taking place in New York, USA from 5-8 May, 2026.
Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)
In 2018, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration was adopted by the majority of UN Member States at an Intergovernmental Conference in Marrakesh, Morocco, followed closely by formal endorsement by the UN General Assembly. GCM is the first inter-governmentally negotiated agreement, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, covering all dimensions of international migration. It is a non-binding document that respects states’ sovereign right to determine who enters and stays in their territory and demonstrates a commitment to international cooperation on migration. There are 23 objectives enshrined in GCM covering six themes, including human rights for all migrants; drivers of migration; international cooperation & governance of migration; irregular & regular pathways; smuggling, trafficking & contemporary slavery; and contribution of migrants and diaspora.