BIMSTEC

BIMSTEC Latest News

Recently, BIMSTEC security chiefs vowed joint action against terrorism and endorsed maritime law enforcement principles. 

About BIMSTEC

• The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a grouping of seven Member States lying in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal.
• The organization came into existence on 6 June 1997 through the ‘Bangkok Declaration’.
• Members: It is a unique link connecting South Asia with South-East Asia – five Members from South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka) and two from South-East Asia (Myanmar and Thailand).
• Historical Background
  • It was formed as BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand Economic Cooperation) in 1997.
  • It was renamed to BIMST-EC with the addition of Myanmar in 1998.
  • It was fully transformed into BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) in 2004.
• The BIMSTEC objectives are to strengthen technical and economic cooperation among its seven member nations situated around the Bay of Bengal.
• BIMSTEC Working Mechanism: It organizes intergovernmental interactions through Summits (held once in 2 years), Ministerial Meetings (Convened annually), Senior Officials Meetings (held twice a year).
• BIMSTEC has identified 14 priority areas of cooperation where a member country takes the lead.
• India is the lead country for Transport & Communication, Tourism, Environment & Disaster Management, and Counter Terrorism & Transnational Crime.
• Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Source: News On Air

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