BharatNotes 🤝 International Relations
BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation)
GS2
BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation)
A regional organisation of seven countries bordering the Bay of Bengal (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan) focused on trade, investment, energy, connectivity, and counter-terrorism cooperation.
Context & Background
Established 6 June 1997 as BIST-EC; Myanmar joined December 1997 → BIMST-EC; Nepal and Bhutan joined 2004 → final name BIMSTEC adopted; secretariat in Dhaka; 6th Summit held 4 April 2025, Bangkok (Thailand hosted); PM Modi attended; adopted Bangkok Vision 2030 (first-ever BIMSTEC Vision Document); Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation signed; MoUs with IORA and UNODC signed; Centres of Excellence (4 areas) to be hosted in India; chairmanship transferred to Bangladesh; BIMSTEC Games 2027 announced.
UPSC Exam Relevance
7 members; India + 6 (no Pakistan); 6th Summit (Bangkok, 4 April 2025) — key recent exam fact; Bangkok Vision 2030 = BIMSTEC's first-ever Vision Document; Maritime Transport Cooperation Agreement signed; BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity (adopted 5th Summit 2022) — implementation reviewed at 6th Summit; relevance to Act East Policy and Neighbourhood First.
