BIMSTEC: Fostering Regional Cooperation in Bay of Bengal Region

Over the past 28 years, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) has evolved into a key intergovernmental regional organization, playing a vital role in fostering regional cooperation and integration across the Bay of Bengal region. It is the only regional organization, which brings together South and Southeast Asia and acts as a bridge between the two regions. It comprises seven member States; Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, & Sri Lanka from South Asia, and Myanmar & Thailand from Southeast Asia. With combined GDP of over $5 trillion and population of 1.8 billion, BIMSTEC has huge strategic significance and immense potential for realising security and sustainable development in the Bay of Bengal region.

 

BIMSTEC was initially established as Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka & Thailand- Economic Cooperation (BIST-EC) through the Bangkok Declaration in June, 1997. It was renamed as BIMSTEC with joining of Myanmar in December 1997 and Nepal & Bhutan joined in 2004. It has its own Charter and well-established decision-making mechanisms and operates on the principle of consensus. It enjoys the requisite political support of its members, focuses on technical and economic cooperation and stays away from political issues.

 

The 6^th BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok, in April 2025, imparted a huge impetus to regional cooperation in Bay of Bengal. It was attended by the Heads of the Government of all the 7 member States. Apart from adoption of Summit Declaration, the Leaders adopted BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030, Report of the Eminent Persons’ Group and BIMSTEC Rules of Procedures. The Summit also witnessed signing of the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation and Memoranda of Understanding with the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

 

BIMSTEC operates on a unique basis of shared responsibility, with each member State leading one or a group of sectors. Bangladesh leads Trade, Investment and Development in Blue Economy; Bhutan  leads Environment and Climate Change and Mountain Economy sectors; India leads Security Energy and Disaster Management sectors; Myanmar leads Agriculture and Food Security and Livestock and Fisheries sectors; Nepal leads People-to-People Contact, Tourism sectors and Culture and Poverty Alleviation sectors; Sri Lanka leads Science, Technology and Innovation as well as Health and Human Resource Development sectors; and Thailand leads Connectivity Sector. BIMSTEC, thus, has a vast and clearly defined agenda for regional cooperation and institutional mechanisms to pursue the same. This system of sectoral leadership also ensures that all member States contribute actively and equitably to advancing BIMSTEC’s regional cooperation agenda.

 

Glimpse of programs in various sectors:
Agriculture and Food Security/ Fisheries &Livestock

 

Regional cooperation in Agriculture and Food Security, including fisheries & livestock, has been a high priority under BIMSTEC. Seperate Plans of Action on BIMSTEC Agricultural Cooperation and Fisheries & Livestock Cooperation have been adopted. Proposals for establishment of a BIMSTEC Food Reserve, a BIMSTEC Seed Bank and a BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence in Agriculture are under consideration. A particular emphasis is being placed on promoting climate resilient agriculture. BIMSTEC has signed a MoU with International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) for support in capacity building and knowledge sharing for promoting agriculture and food security and other allied sectors.

 

 

Blue Economy

A concept paper on regional cooperation in Blue Economy has been proposed by Bangladesh. The 1st Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Expert Group on Blue Economy is being scheduled, which will deliberate on a Plan of Action on regional cooperation in Blue Economy in Bay of Bengal.

 

 

Connectivity

The BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity, adopted In March 2022, has been under Implementation and development of a Plan of Action for Connectivity is underway. The Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation (AMTC) was signed at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, in Bangkok, in April 2025. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for operationalisation of AMTC are being finalised. BIMSTEC is also engaged in negotiation of a BIMSTEC Motor Vehicles Agreement which will facilitate land connectivity amongst the member States. There is a proposal to establish BIMSTEC Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre in India. BIMSTEC has been working with ADB for forging regional cooperation in Transport Connectivity and is engaged in revision of the Master Plan on Transport Connectivity.

 

 

Culture

Under Paro Initiative, BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission (BCIC) and have been set up and a BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory (BCIO) is also set up in Paro, Bhutan. The Expert Group on Cultural Cooperation has finalised a Plan of Action, which includes BIMSTEC Cultural Heritage Inventory; BIMSTEC Buddhist Circuit; BIMSTEC Network of Cultural Experts; Capacity Development of Professionals; and Identification and Documentation of BIMSTEC Heritages. Also, there is a proposal to set up a Centre of Excellence for Culture and Tourism in Nepal.

 

 

Disaster Management

The BIMSTEC Expert Group on Disaster Management is currently engaged in finalising a Plan of Action to Improve Preparedness and Coordination for responding to natural disasters in the member States. A BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate (BCWC) has been set up in Noida, India; it makes tailored weather and climate forecasts for the member States. Four rounds of BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise have been held. A BIMSTEC Disaster Management Centre will be established in India to anchor cooperation among the member States, for coordinated response to disasters.

 

 

Environment and Climate Change

Regional cooperation in the Environment and Climate Change Sector aims to strengthen the resilience of the member States to environmental challenges and adverse impacts of climate change. Significant progress has been made in delineating and implementing Plans of Action for regional cooperation in areas of environment and climate change as well as mountain economy.

 

 

Energy

BIMSTEC has adopted a Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation. A MoU for establishment of BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection has been concluded and BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection Master Plan is under discussion. BIMSTEC Policy for Transmission of Electricity and BIMSTEC Policy for Trade, Exchange of Electricity and Tariff Mechanism are being finalised. BIMSTEC Energy Centre (BEC) has been established in Bengaluru, India and it is engaged in promoting regional cooperation in capacity building , promotion of renewables and enhancing energy efficiency.

 

 

Health

BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Public Health (2023-2025) has been under implementation. Cooperation between BIMSTEC and World Bank on Strengthening Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response and Health Systems Resilience is under consideration. The Inaugural Meeting of BIMSTEC Health Ministers, preceded by a Senior Health Officials' Meeting, has been planned to be convened soon. A proposal for establishment of BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence on Tropical Medicine and Public Health in Thailand is under consideration. A BIMSTEC Task Force on Traditional Medicine has been established. There is a BIMSTEC Action Plan for the Development of Traditional Medicine and the creation of a BIMSTEC Traditional Medicine Portal has been agreed. There is a plan to establish a BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence in Traditional Medicine in India.

 

 

Human Resource Development

The Expert Group on Human Resource Development has finalised a Plan of Action on Human Resource Development (2024-2029) for empowering a Skilled and Resilient Workforce for the Future, especially focusing on education, skill development, and capacity building. Bangladesh has proposed to setup a Centre of Excellence for Skill Development.

 

 

People-People Contact Forums

A Network of Policy Think Tanks of the BIMSTEC member States has been set up; they make policy recommendations for enhancing regional cooperation in various Sectors under BIMSTEC. An Association of BIMSTEC Speakers and Parliamentarians is being set up. A number of Youth exchanges and sports events have been held.

 

 

Poverty Alleviation

Poverty alleviation has been a priority goal for regional cooperation under BIMSTEC. A Plan of Action on Poverty Alleviation has been adopted and is under implementation.

 

 

Security

Regional cooperation in security has also been a high priority for BIMSTEC, encompassing cooperation in counter-terrorism, transnational crime and drug trafficking, etc. The BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organised Crime, and Illicit Drug Trafficking. The BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters has been signed and is being ratified. Text of the BIMSTEC Convention Against Trafficking in Persons has been finalised. A Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking In Persons in Bay of Bengal Region has also been finalised.

 

 

Draft Texts of BIMSTEC Convention on Transfer of Sentenced Persons and BIMSTEC Convention on Extradition are under discussion. The BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Drug Control; the Five Year Action Plan for BIMSTEC Cyber Security Cooperation; and Action Plan to prevent Illicit Flow of Funds (IFF) has been finalised.

 

 

BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs have prioritised cooperation in maritime, cyber and space domains. They have also instituted Track 1.5 BIMSTEC Security Dialogue. BIMSTEC Guidelines for Maritime Component of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) have been finalised. BIMSTEC Guiding Principles for the Conduct by BIMSTEC Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies (MLEAs) during their interaction at sea and BIMSTEC Guidelines for Coordinated Marine Oil Spill Response are being finalised. Apart from Meeting of National Security Chiefs, it has been decided to institutionalise BIMSTEC Home Ministers Meeting to strengthen and deepen cooperation in security sector.

 

 

Science, Technology & Innovation

The Expert Group on Science, Technology, and Innovation Cooperation (EGSTIC) has finalised a Plan of Action (2023-2027), which is being implemented. A BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF) is being set up in Colombo. Regional cooperation is also being pursued through BIMSTEC Start-up Conclave, STI Forum and Boot Camps. Cooperation in digital domain has also been prioritised, including building of Digital Public Infrastructures (DPI).

 

 

Trade, Investment & Development 

Regional cooperation in promoting Intra-BIMSTECtrade and investment remains a high priority under BIMSTEC. A Framework Agreement BIMSTEC Free Trade Area (FTA) has been signed and six specialised Working Groups have been engaged In negotiation of constituent Agreements on Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, Investments, Dispute Settlement, Trade Facilitation and Customs Cooperation. There has also been focus on enhancing Business to Business exchanges through BIMSTEC Business Summits and Conclaves. There is a Proposal to create a BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce and Industries. BIMSTEC member States are also exploring the possibility of establishing a cross-border digital payment system. It has been decided to set up an Expert Group on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, which is expected to finalize a Plan of Action on fiscal and monetary policy cooperation among the member States.

 

 

Tourism

The Working Group on Tourism adopted, in January 2024, an updated Plan of Action on Tourism, which is under Implementation. A BIMSTEC Virtual Tourism Information Centre is being established in New Delhi. A BIMSTEC Tourism Fund has been created. There is a BIMSTEC Network of Tour Operators for encouraging intra-BIMSTEC tourism. BIMSTEC has been collaborating with ADB in conducting tourism related studies and workshops.

 

 

Since its inception, BIMSTEC has made significant strides toward becoming a platform for regional cooperation. Member States are working together to build a more connected, secure and prosperous Bay of Bengal region for future generations. As challenges intensify, BIMSTEC is emerging as a key platform for regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region, shaping a more resilient and prosperous future for its members and beyond. Looking ahead, BIMSTEC is poised to serve as a preferred platform for forging regional cooperation, contributing to sustainable and inclusive development of its member States.