The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, or BIMSTEC, is a regional grouping of countries around the Bay of Bengal. It has become an important platform for India’s ties with its eastern neighbours. Here is a simple guide.
How it began
BIMSTEC was set up on 6 June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration. It began with Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Myanmar joined later in 1997, and Nepal and Bhutan joined in 2004. Its secretariat is in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Members
- Five from South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
- Two from Southeast Asia: Myanmar and Thailand.
Together, the members are home to a large share of the world’s population.
The charter
At the fifth summit, held virtually under Sri Lanka’s chairmanship in March 2022, leaders adopted the BIMSTEC Charter. It gave the grouping a formal legal identity. The sixth summit was held in Bangkok in April 2025.
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Areas of cooperation
BIMSTEC reorganised its work into seven pillars, with each member leading one:
- Trade, investment and development.
- Environment and climate change.
- Security, including counter terrorism and energy.
- Agriculture and food security.
- People to people contacts.
- Science, technology and innovation.
- Connectivity.
India leads the security pillar.
Connectivity
Members have worked on a master plan for transport connectivity in the region, and projects like the India Myanmar Thailand trilateral highway and the Kaladan multimodal project link India’s North East with Southeast Asia.
Why BIMSTEC matters for India
- It connects India’s Neighbourhood First and Act East policies.
- It helps the development of the North Eastern states through links with Bangladesh and Myanmar.
- It offers a platform for regional cooperation as SAARC remains stalled.
- The Bay of Bengal is key for maritime security and trade.
Challenges
- A free trade agreement has been under discussion for many years but is not yet in place.
- The secretariat has limited resources.
- Political issues in some member countries slow progress.
Recent steps
At the Bangkok summit in 2025, members signed an agreement on maritime transport cooperation and adopted a vision document for the grouping’s future. India also announced several initiatives for capacity building, including training programmes and support in areas like disaster management and digital public infrastructure.
Bottom line
BIMSTEC brings together seven countries around the Bay of Bengal. For India, it is a key bridge between South and Southeast Asia and a practical route for regional cooperation.
Source / स्रोत: BIMSTEC Secretariat, Ministry of External Affairs, Press Information Bureau
