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BIMSTEC

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BIMSTEC

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is an international organization of seven South Asian and Southeast Asian nations, housing 1.73 billion people and having a combined gross domestic product of US$5.2 trillion (2023). The BIMSTEC member states – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand – are among the countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal. Fourteen priority sectors of cooperation have been identified and several BIMSTEC centers have been established to focus on those sectors. As of 2018, BIMSTEC free trade agreement is under negotiation, considered similar to SAARC. Leadership is rotated in alphabetical order of country names. The permanent secretariat is in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Infobox

Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (in other languages) Bengali:বঙ্গোপসাগরীয় বহুখাতীয় কারিগরি ও অর্থনৈতিক সহযোগিতা উদ্যোগBurmese:ဘင်္ဂလားပင်လယ်အော်ဒေသတွင်း ကဏ္ဍပေါင်းစုံ၊ နည်းပညာနှင့် စီးပွားရေးပူးပေါင်းဆောင်ရွက်မှု အစီအစဉ်Dzongkha:བེང་གཱལ་མཚོ་ཁའི་སྡེ་ཚན་སྣ་མང་གི་འཕྲུལ་རིག་དང་དཔལ་འབྱོར་མཉམ་ལས་ལས་འགུལ།Hindi:बंगाल की खाड़ी बहुक्षेत्रीय तकनीकी एवं आर्थिक सहयोग पहलNepali:बङ्गालको खाडी बहुक्षेत्रीय प्राविधिक तथा आर्थिक सहयोग पहलSinhala:බෙංගාල බොක්ක ආශ්රිත රටවල බහු ආංශික තාක්ෂණික ආර්ථික සහයෝගීතාව සඳහා වන එකමුතුවTamil:வங்காள விரிகுடா பல்துறை தொழில்நுட்ப பொருளாதார கூட்டுறவிற்கான முன்னெடுப்புThai:ความริเริ่มแห่งอ่าวเบงกอลสำหรับความร่วมมือหลากหลายสาขาทางวิชาการและเศรษฐกิจ BIMSTEC
বঙ্গোপসাগরীয় বহুখাতীয় কারিগরি ও অর্থনৈতিক সহযোগিতা উদ্যোগ
Bengali:
বঙ্গোপসাগরীয় বহুখাতীয় কারিগরি ও অর্থনৈতিক সহযোগিতা উদ্যোগ
Burmese:
ဘင်္ဂလားပင်လယ်အော်ဒေသတွင်း ကဏ္ဍပေါင်းစုံ၊ နည်းပညာနှင့် စီးပွားရေးပူးပေါင်းဆောင်ရွက်မှု အစီအစဉ်
Dzongkha:
བེང་གཱལ་མཚོ་ཁའི་སྡེ་ཚན་སྣ་མང་གི་འཕྲུལ་རིག་དང་དཔལ་འབྱོར་མཉམ་ལས་ལས་འགུལ།
Hindi:
बंगाल की खाड़ी बहुक्षेत्रीय तकनीकी एवं आर्थिक सहयोग पहल
Nepali:
बङ्गालको खाडी बहुक्षेत्रीय प्राविधिक तथा आर्थिक सहयोग पहल
Sinhala:
බෙංගාල බොක්ක ආශ්රිත රටවල බහු ආංශික තාක්ෂණික ආර්ථික සහයෝගීතාව සඳහා වන එකමුතුව
Tamil:
வங்காள விரிகுடா பல்துறை தொழில்நுட்ப பொருளாதார கூட்டுறவிற்கான முன்னெடுப்பு
Thai:
ความริเริ่มแห่งอ่าวเบงกอลสำหรับความร่วมมือหลากหลายสาขาทางวิชาการและเศรษฐกิจ
Headquarters
Dhaka, Bangladesh 23°45′50″N 90°23′20″E / 23.76389°N 90.38889°E / 23.76389; 90.38889
Largest city
Mumbai, India19°04′34″N 72°52′39″E / 19.07611°N 72.87750°E / 19.07611; 72.87750
Working language
English
Official languages of contracting states
mw- .inline, .inline dl, .inline ol, .inline ul, dl dl, dl ol, dl ul, ol dl, ol ol dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd ol li BengaliBurmeseDzongkhaEnglishHindiNepaliSinhaleseTamilThai
Type
Regional organisation
Membership
mw- Bangladesh Bhutan India Myanmar Nepal Sri Lanka Thailand
• Chairmanship
Bangladesh (since March 2025)
• Secretary General
India (since 2023)
Establishment
6 June 1997; 28 years ago (1997-06-06)
• Total
4,876,941 km2 (1,882,997 sq mi)
• 2025 estimate
1.777 billion
• Density
364.4/km2 (943.8/sq mi)
Time zone
UTC 5:30 to 7:00

Tables

· Permanent Secretariat
1
1
No.
1
Date
2014–2017
Country
Sri Lanka
Secretary General of the BIMSTEC
Sumith Nakandala
2
2
No.
2
Date
2017–2020
Country
Bangladesh
Secretary General of the BIMSTEC
M Shahidul Islam
3
3
No.
3
Date
2020–2023
Country
Bhutan
Secretary General of the BIMSTEC
Tenzin Lekphell
4
4
No.
4
Date
2024–present
Country
India
Secretary General of the BIMSTEC
Indra Mani Pandey
No.
Date
Country
Secretary General of the BIMSTEC
1
2014–2017
Sri Lanka
Sumith Nakandala
2
2017–2020
Bangladesh
M Shahidul Islam
3
2020–2023
Bhutan
Tenzin Lekphell
4
2024–present
India
Indra Mani Pandey
· Member nations
Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Countries
Bangladesh
Head of state
Mohammed Shahabuddin, President of Bangladesh
Head of government
Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh (*)
Population
169,356,251
Nominal GDP / US$billion
419.237
Bhutan
Bhutan
Countries
Bhutan
Head of state
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, King of Bhutan
Head of government
Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan (*)
Population
777,486
Nominal GDP / US$billion
2.653
India
India
Countries
India
Head of state
Droupadi Murmu, President of India
Head of government
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India (*)
Population
1,407,563,842
Nominal GDP / US$billion
3,937.743
Myanmar
Myanmar
Countries
Myanmar
Head of state
Min Aung Hlaing, Acting President of Myanmar
Head of government
Nyo Saw, Prime Minister of Myanmar (*) §
Population
53,798,084
Nominal GDP / US$billion
69.262
Nepal
Nepal
Countries
Nepal
Head of state
Ram Chandra Poudel, President of Nepal
Head of government
Sushila Karki, Prime Minister of Nepal (interim) (*)
Population
31,122,378
Nominal GDP / US$billion
41.393
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Countries
Sri Lanka
Head of state
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of Sri Lanka (*)
Head of government
Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
Population
21,773,441
Nominal GDP / US$billion
81.934
Thailand
Thailand
Countries
Thailand
Head of state
Vajiralongkorn (Rama X), King of Thailand
Head of government
Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister of Thailand (*)
Population
71,601,103
Nominal GDP / US$billion
522.012
Countries
Head of state
Head of government
Population
Nominal GDP / US$billion
Bangladesh
Mohammed Shahabuddin, President of Bangladesh
Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh (*)
169,356,251
419.237
Bhutan
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, King of Bhutan
Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan (*)
777,486
2.653
India
Droupadi Murmu, President of India
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India (*)
1,407,563,842
3,937.743
Myanmar
Min Aung Hlaing, Acting President of Myanmar
Nyo Saw, Prime Minister of Myanmar (*) §
53,798,084
69.262
Nepal
Ram Chandra Poudel, President of Nepal
Sushila Karki, Prime Minister of Nepal (interim) (*)
31,122,378
41.393
Sri Lanka
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of Sri Lanka (*)
Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
21,773,441
81.934
Thailand
Vajiralongkorn (Rama X), King of Thailand
Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister of Thailand (*)
71,601,103
522.012
· BIMSTEC priority sectors
Transport and communication
Transport and communication
Priority Area
Transport and communication
Lead Country
India
Tourism
Tourism
Priority Area
Tourism
Lead Country
BIMSTEC Tourism Information Centre, Delhi
Counterterrorism and transnational crime
Counterterrorism and transnational crime
Priority Area
Counterterrorism and transnational crime
Centre
Four subgroups: Intelligence sharing – Sri Lanka (lead), Terror financing – Thailand, Legal – Myanmar, Law enforcement and narcotics – Myanmar
Environment and disaster management
Environment and disaster management
Priority Area
Environment and disaster management
Lead Country
BIMSTEC Weather and Climate Centre, Noida
Energy
Energy
Priority Area
Energy
Lead Country
Myanmar
Centre
BIMSTEC Energy Centre, Bengaluru
Comments
BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection MoU signed in 2014
Public Health
Public Health
Priority Area
Public Health
Lead Country
Thailand
Centre
BIMSTEC Network of National Centres on Coordination in Traditional Medicine
Agriculture
Agriculture
Priority Area
Agriculture
Lead Country
Myanmar
Trade & Investment
Trade & Investment
Priority Area
Trade & Investment
Lead Country
Bangladesh
Technology
Technology
Priority Area
Technology
Lead Country
Sri Lanka
Fisheries
Fisheries
Priority Area
Fisheries
Lead Country
Thailand
People-to-People Contact
People-to-People Contact
Priority Area
People-to-People Contact
Lead Country
Thailand
Poverty Alleviation
Poverty Alleviation
Priority Area
Poverty Alleviation
Lead Country
Nepal
Climate Change
Climate Change
Priority Area
Climate Change
Lead Country
Bangladesh
Cultural Cooperation
Cultural Cooperation
Priority Area
Cultural Cooperation
Lead Country
Bhutan
Comments
1200 ITEC scholarships by India
Priority Area
Lead Country
Centre
Comments
Transport and communication
India
Tourism
BIMSTEC Tourism Information Centre, Delhi
Counterterrorism and transnational crime
Four subgroups: Intelligence sharing – Sri Lanka (lead), Terror financing – Thailand, Legal – Myanmar, Law enforcement and narcotics – Myanmar
Environment and disaster management
BIMSTEC Weather and Climate Centre, Noida
Energy
Myanmar
BIMSTEC Energy Centre, Bengaluru
BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection MoU signed in 2014
Public Health
Thailand
BIMSTEC Network of National Centres on Coordination in Traditional Medicine
Agriculture
Myanmar
Trade & Investment
Bangladesh
Technology
Sri Lanka
Fisheries
Thailand
People-to-People Contact
Thailand
Poverty Alleviation
Nepal
Climate Change
Bangladesh
Cultural Cooperation
Bhutan
1200 ITEC scholarships by India
· BIMSTEC Summits
1st
1st
No.
1st
Date
31 July 2004
Host country
Thailand
Host city
Bangkok
2nd
2nd
No.
2nd
Date
13 November 2008
Host country
India
Host city
New Delhi
3rd
3rd
No.
3rd
Date
4 March 2014
Host country
Myanmar
Host city
Naypyidaw
4th
4th
No.
4th
Date
30–31 August 2018
Host country
Nepal
Host city
Kathmandu
5th
5th
No.
5th
Date
30 March 2022
Host country
Sri Lanka
Host city
Colombo (Virtual meeting)
6th
6th
No.
6th
Date
2-4 April 2025
Host country
Thailand
Host city
Bangkok
7th
7th
No.
7th
Date
TBD
Host country
Bangladesh
Host city
Dhaka(Presumptive)
No.
Date
Host country
Host city
1st
31 July 2004
Thailand
Bangkok
2nd
13 November 2008
India
New Delhi
3rd
4 March 2014
Myanmar
Naypyidaw
4th
30–31 August 2018
Nepal
Kathmandu
5th
30 March 2022
Sri Lanka
Colombo (Virtual meeting)
6th
2-4 April 2025
Thailand
Bangkok
7th
TBD
Bangladesh
Dhaka(Presumptive)

References

  1. The president is the constitutional chief executive, but Acting President Myint Swe has delegated his executive authorit
  2. bimstec.org
    https://bimstec.org/emblem
  3. bimstec.org
    https://bimstec.org/flag
  4. Business Standard India
    http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/nepal-unlikely-to-host-fourth-bimstec-summit-this-year-116060300847_1.html
  5. The Daily Star
    https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/bangladesh-becomes-bimstec-chair-2yrs-3863366
  6. "Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey assumes charge of BIMSTEC Secretary General"
    https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=Ambassador-Indra-Mani-Pandey-assumes-charge-of-BIMSTEC-Secretary-General%3A&id=474614
  7. un.org
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150218125411/http://esa.un.org/unpd/wup/CD-ROM/
  8. BIMSTEC: Building bridges between South Asia & Southeast Asia Archived 22 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine, IndiaWri
    http://www.indiawrites.org/bimstec-building-bridges-between-south-asia-southeast-asia/
  9. BIMSTEC
    https://bimstec.org/
  10. "Regional economic integration in the Bay of Bengal"
    http://www.thedailystar.net/op-ed/economics/regional-economic-integration-the-bay-bengal-660181
  11. bimstec.org
    https://web.archive.org/web/20171206152918/http://bimstec.org/sectors/energy/
  12. The Hindu
    http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/bimstec-outreach-likely-to-pep-up-rocky-brics-summit-at-goa/article9224549.ece
  13. The Economic Times
    http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/brics-summit-2016-bimstec-members-have-economic-opportunities-to-share-said-narendra-modi/articleshow/54883267.cms
  14. See for a detailed historical account of the founding and evolution of BIST-EC and BIMST-EC e.g. Michael, Arndt (2013).
  15. "Area of cooperation"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052951/http://bimstec.org/area-of-cooperation/
  16. Press Information Bureau, Government of India
    https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=104505
  17. IMF.org
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  18. "BIMSTC sectors"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170529212023/http://www.bimstec.org/index.php?page=sectors
  19. www.sasec.asia
    https://www.sasec.asia/index.php?page=news&nid=659&url=india-cabinet-approves-bimstec
  20. "Nepal to join BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection"
    http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2017-11-06/nepal-to-join-bimstec-grid-interconnection.html
  21. "Bimstec committee mulls free trade deal in Dhaka"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20190330010611/http://asianews.eu/content/bimstec-committee-mulls-free-trade-deal-dhaka-85786
  22. "BIMSTEC Member States discuss draft text of Coastal Shipping Agreement"
    http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=174036
  23. "First BIMSTEC Conclave of Ports, Vishakhapatnam (November 7-8, 2019)"
    https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/32010/First+BIMSTEC+Conclave+of+Ports+Vishakhapatnam+November+78+2019
  24. "BIMSTEC Transport Infrastructure and Logistic Study"
    http://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/kavita-iyengar-RPDSTCSA-20nov2014.pdf
  25. Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170114233639/http://www.bimstec.org/index.php?page=bimstec-summit
  26. Business Standard India
    https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/nepal-proposes-dates-for-bimstec-summit-118060500116_1.html
  27. "Thailand has assumed the chairmanship of BIMSTEC for 2022 – 2023 for prosperous, resilient and robust, and open Bay of Bengal region"
    https://www.mfa.go.th/en/content/bimstec-summit-2?page=5d5bd3cb15e39c306002a9ac&menu=5d5bd3cb15e39c306002a9ae
  28. "4th BIMSTEC Summit: Kathmandu Declaration adopted by Member States"
    https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/4th-bimstec-summit-2018-held-1535606162-1
  29. mea.gov.in
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  30. nationthailand
    https://www.nationthailand.com/news/world/40048347
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