BIMSTEC, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, is a regional organization comprising seven South Asian and Southeast Asian nations: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand . It houses 1.73 billion people and has a combined gross domestic product of $4.4 trillion .
Here’s a detailed overview:
- Objectives: BIMSTEC aims to foster regional and economic cooperation among member states . It focuses on various sectors to promote sustainable development, poverty alleviation, and regional connectivity .
- Key Areas of Cooperation:
- Trade and Investment
- Transport and Communication
- Energy
- Tourism
- Technology
- Fisheries
- Agriculture
- Public Health
- Poverty Alleviation
- Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime
- Environment and Disaster Management
- Climate Change
- Culture
- People-to-People Contact
- Recent Developments and Meetings (March 2025):
- 3rd Meeting of the BIMSTEC Working Group on Tourism: Held on March 18, 2025, in Colombo, Sri Lanka .
- 3rd Meeting of the BIMSTEC Working Group on Trade Facilitation: Took place on March 19, 2025, in Dhaka, Bangladesh .
- BIMSTEC Secretary General (SG) in conversation with Journalist Masud Karim (MK) of The Daily Jugantor & ANI: Held on March 21, 2025, at the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka . The discussion revolved around the 6th Summit and regional cooperation under BIMSTEC .
- BIMSTEC Youth Summit 2025:
- The first-ever BIMSTEC Youth Summit 2025 was inaugurated in Gandhinagar, Gujarat .
- The summit emphasized skill development, entrepreneurship, and regional cooperation .
- The theme was “Youth as a Bridge for Intra-BIMSTEC Exchange” .
- India proposed a BIMSTEC-wide startup network to boost innovation and entrepreneurship .
- 6th BIMSTEC Summit:
- Scheduled for April 4, 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand .
- A Ministerial Meeting on April 3 and a Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) on April 2 will precede the summit .
- Expected to focus on institutional strengthening, connectivity and trade, security and crime prevention, digital public infrastructure, and tourism and people-to-people ties .
- Key Priorities for the 6th BIMSTEC Summit:
- Institutional Strengthening: Establishing structured frameworks for cultural collaboration and deliberating on the long-term governance structure of BIMSTEC .
- Connectivity and Trade: Reviewing ongoing transport infrastructure projects under the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity .
- Security and Crime Prevention: Intensifying efforts to combat illicit financial flows, strengthen anti-money laundering measures, and finalize an action plan .
- Digital Public Infrastructure: Recognizing its role in fostering financial inclusion, cross-border digital services, and regional economic transformation .
- Tourism and People-to-People Ties: Facilitating regional tourism through initiatives such as the BIMSTEC Buddhist Circuits and Cruise Circuits and considering visa facilitation measures .
- India’s Role: India plays a crucial role in BIMSTEC, focusing on enhancing regional cooperation, connectivity, and economic integration . India’s commitment to youth empowerment is reflected in initiatives like the Skill India Mission and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 .
