BIMSTEC Celebrates its 27th Anniversary

As Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) marks its 27th Anniversary on BIMSTEC Day 2024, Leaders of all BIMSTEC member States reaffirm their commitment to strengthen regional cooperation. The Secretariat of the BIMSTEC in Dhaka celebrated the Anniversary of the regional organisation on BIMSTEC Day on Thursday. The celebration included an Official Reception at the Dhaka Sheraton in the evening.

Prime Minister's Power, Energy, And Mineral Resources Advisor Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury addressed the occasion, as the Chief Guest, while former foreign minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu, former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam graced the occasion along with members of the diplomatic corps, officials of the Government of Bangladesh, media personnel, and friends of BIMSTEC. Welcoming the guests, the Secretary General of BIMSTEC, Indra Mani Pandey traced the evolution of BIMSTEC over the last twenty-seven years from the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.

BIMSTEC is an intergovernmental organisation which was established on 06 June 1997 with signing of Bangkok declaration. After Myanmar joined on 22 December 1997, the group was named BIMST-EC (Bangladesh-India-Myanmar-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation). With admission of Bhutan and Nepal as members, in February 2004, the group was renamed as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). BIMSTEC, thus, comprises seven member states- Bangladesh, Bhutan, India Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It acts as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia.