Seven countries grouping Bimstec, which connects South Asia with Southeast Asia, is poised to emerge as a “leading organization” in the Indian Ocean region, Secretary General Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey has said, as Thailand is going to host leaders in September.
“The date for the 6th Summit will formally be announced soon. Thailand has proposed a date. Once we receive concurrence from the member states, it will be finalized,” he said while interacting with the members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at its Secretariat in Dhaka.
DCAB President Nurul Islam Hasib led the association.
Bimstec is the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. It is an inter-governmental organization founded in 1997.
It brings together countries located in the Bay of Bengal, a sub-region of the Indian Ocean Region, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Together they account for 22% of the world population, and combined GDP is $ 4.5 trillion.
Seven countries lead seven sectors – Bangladesh leads trade, investment and development, including blue economy, while Bhutan leads environment and climate change, including mountain economy, India leads security, including energy and disaster management, Myanmar leads agriculture and food security, including fisheries and livestock, Nepal leads people-to-people contact, including poverty alleviation, Sri Lanka leads science, technology and innovation, including health and human resource development, and Thailand connectivity.
Key developments
Since its inception, the Bimstec has made progress in different sectors. The secretary general noted those developments.
The Expert Group on Agricultural Cooperation has adopted a Plan of Action on Strengthening Bimstec Agricultural Cooperation (2023- 2027), which is under implementation.
The “Bimstec Master Plan for Transport Connectivity” was adopted at the 5th Bimstec Summit in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in March 2022.
The “Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation”, which was approved by the 19th Ministerial Meeting, is proposed to be signed at the 6th Bimstec Summit.
An Inter-governmental Expert Group on Mountain Economy (IEG-ME) has also been established. The First meeting of this Group was held in April 2024 in Bhutan, which finalized a Plan of Action on the Mountain Economy.
There is a Bimstec Working Group on Tourism, which has adopted a Plan of Action for Tourism Development and Promotion. A Bimstec Tourism Fund has been created.
A Bimstec Poverty Plan of Action (PPA) was adopted in 2012.
The Bimstec Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking has entered into force since March 2021.
The Bimstec Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters was signed in March 2022 at the 5th Bimstec Summit and is being ratified.
The Bimstec Expert Group on Disaster Management is currently engaged in finalizing a Plan of Action to improve Preparedness and Coordination for responding to Natural Disasters in the Bay of Bengal Region.
A Bimstec Centre for Weather and Climate (BCWC) has been set up in Noida, India.
There is a Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation, adopted by the Bimstec Energy Ministers’ Conference in 2005. The MoU for the establishment of the Bimstec Grid Interconnection has been in force since April 2019.
The Bimstec Policy for Transmission of Electricity and the Bimstec Policy for Trade, Exchange of Electricity and Tariff Mechanism are being finalized.
The Bimstec Grid Interconnection Master Plan is under discussion. A Bimstec Energy Centre (BEC) is being established in Bengaluru, India.
The Bimstec Expert Group on Science, Technology, and Innovation Cooperation (STIC) has finalised a Bimstec Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (2023- 2024) which is being implemented.
Indra Mani Pandey takes charge as new BIMSTEC secretary generalThe Bimstec Expert Group on Public Health (EGPH) has finalized the Bimstec Plan of Action on Public Health 2023-2025, which is being implemented.
A MoU on Cooperation between the Bimstec and World Bank on Strengthening Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response and Health Systems Resilience is under consideration.
Bimstec Business Forum and Bimstec Economic Forum were established in 1998. The Framework Agreement on Bimstec Free Trade Area was signed in 2004.
Upcoming summit
The secretary general did not disclose any possible dates, but it is learnt that Thailand which will host that summit proposed to hold it in September in Bangkok.
Ambassador Pandey said the Summit would add new enthusiasm to the regional cooperation.
“I believe Bimstec has a bright future. All the members are truly committed to making sure Bimstec becomes a success story,” he said, adding that the Summit will adopt a Bangkok Vision 2030 which would be a significant outcome.
Besides, he said, the “Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation” was expected to be signed at the Summit. “It will deal with every aspect of maritime connectivity," he said.
Why Bimstec?
Ambassador Pandey believes that regional organizations and sub-regional organizations, like Bimstec, provide a “conducive and effective” framework for promoting cooperation amongst the countries in the Indian Ocean.
“The Indian Ocean Region is a large and diverse geographical space, comprising very different regions and sub-regions with their unique geo-strategic and geo-economic dynamics. It is, therefore, not easy to devise mechanisms of cooperation for the entire IOR. Regional Organizations find it easy to build consensus due to small membership,” he said.
“Also, it’s easier for them to deal with the security and developmental challenges faced by a particular region by devising region-specific strategies.”
He said Bimstec is the only organization, which brings together five countries from South Asia and two countries from Southeast Asia
“All the countries are located at the heart of the Indian Ocean Region. Bimstec has its own Charter and well-established decision-making mechanisms, including Summits, Ministerial Meetings, Senior Officials’ Meetings, Permanent Working Committee Meetings, Sectoral Working Groups, and Expert Groups,” he said.
“Bimstec has identified areas of cooperation, organized in seven Sectors, lead by each country. Bimstec enjoys the requisite political support of its members, focuses on technical and economic cooperation, and stays away from political issues,” he said while highlighting the potential of Bimstec.
