Indian Prime Minister participated in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, hosted by Thailand under its chairmanship.
- Theme: “BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient, and Open”, focusing on regional cooperation and key challenges.
- On the sidelines, India and Thailand elevated their bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership.
BIMSTEC
| Aspect | Details |
| Full Form | Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation |
| Members | Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand |
| Founded | 1997 (via Bangkok Declaration) |
| Original Name | BIST-EC → BIMST-EC → BIMSTEC |
| Headquarters | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Population | ~1.7 billion (22% of global) |
| Combined GDP | ~$5.2 trillion (2023 est.) |
Significance of BIMSTEC
- Supports India’s Act East Policy: Enhances connectivity and trade in Indo-Pacific.
- Viable Alternative to SAARC: Especially post SAARC’s stagnation.
- Geostrategic Tool: Counters growing Chinese influence in the region.
- Disaster Management & Security: Focus on HADR, counter-terrorism.
- Cultural Promotion: Institutions like Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies (Nalanda University) foster cultural heritage.
Key Highlights of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit
Vision & Roadmap
- Adoption of Bangkok Vision 2030 and the Summit Declaration.
- Emphasis on:
- Regional prosperity
- Economic integration
- Infrastructure & technology collaboration
- Resilience to global challenges
India’s Key Announcements
- 21-point Action Plan for regional cooperation in:
- Connectivity, Trade, Disaster Management, Tech Integration
BIMSTEC Centres of Excellence (India-led)
- Focus Areas:
- Disaster Management
- Sustainable Maritime Transport
- Traditional Medicine
- Agriculture R&D & Training
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
- Pilot study for enhanced governance and service delivery.
BODHI Program
- BIMSTEC for Organized Development of Human Resource Infrastructure:
- Training, scholarships, capacity-building for professionals.
Cancer Care Initiative
- Capacity-building program for cancer treatment across BIMSTEC.
Chamber of Commerce & Business Summit
- Annual BIMSTEC Business Summit
- Creation of BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce
People-to-People Initiatives (India would be hosting)
- BIMSTEC Athletics Meet (2025)
- BIMSTEC Games (2027) (30th anniversary)
- Traditional Music Festival
- Youth Hackathon & Leadership Summits
- Young Professional Visitors Program
Other Initiatives
- Linking India’s UPI with BIMSTEC payment systems.
- Operationalizing BIMSTEC Energy Centre (Bengaluru).
- Grid interconnection, Maritime Transport Agreement.
- Nano-satellite & remote sensing collaboration.
- Scholarships, traditional medicine, agricultural research.
India-Thailand Strategic Partnership Highlights
Maritime Cooperation
- Indo-Pacific collaboration via AOIP & IPOI.
- India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway for regional connectivity.
Defence & Security
- Expansion of Exercise Maitree, joint military exercises.
- Focus on counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, and intel-sharing.
Trade & Economy
- Supply chain resilience, private sector investment
- FTA upgradation, digital economy cooperation
Cultural & Diaspora Ties
- Buddhist cultural linkages, education exchanges
- Tourism & diaspora engagement
Science & Tech
- Renewable energy, space cooperation
- Innovation in healthcare, biotech, DPI
Regional & Multilateral Cooperation
- Coordination in BIMSTEC, ASEAN, IORA, UN
- Promotion of rules-based international order
