6th BIMSTEC Summit

GS II International Relations

The Indian Prime Minister took part in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, which was held under the chairmanship of Thailand.

The summit was conducted under the theme “BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient, and Open,” and centered around enhancing regional cooperation and addressing key regional and global challenges.

Major Highlights of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit

1. Vision 2030 Document:
   The Summit saw the adoption of the Bangkok Vision 2030 and the Summit Declaration, charting a strategic course for regional development. The vision focuses on promoting economic integration, strengthening resilience against global challenges, and enhancing collaboration in areas such as infrastructure and technological advancement.
2. India’s Announcements and Initiatives:

• Establishment of BIMSTEC Centres of Excellence: India committed to setting up Centres of Excellence in various fields, such as Disaster Management, Sustainable Maritime Transport, Traditional Medicine, and Research & Training in Agriculture.
• Digital Public Infrastructure Pilot Study: India proposed conducting a pilot project to evaluate the potential of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in improving governance and service delivery within BIMSTEC countries.
• BODHI Programme: India launched the BODHI Programme (BIMSTEC for Organized Development of Human Resource Infrastructure), aimed at capacity building and skill development. This includes training programs, scholarships, and professional development for individuals across the BIMSTEC nations.
• Cancer Care Program: A regional initiative for building capacity in cancer care across the BIMSTEC countries was also introduced by India.
• BIMSTEC Business and Trade Initiatives:
  India proposed the creation of a BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce and an annual BIMSTEC Business Summit to deepen economic cooperation and foster regional trade and investment.
• Strengthening Cultural and People-to-People Engagement:
  India announced several initiatives to boost cultural ties and mutual understanding, including:
  • BIMSTEC Athletics Meet (2025)
  • First BIMSTEC Games (2027) to mark the group’s 30th anniversary
  • BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival
  • Young Leaders’ Summit & Hackathon
  • Young Professional Visitors Program to increase youth and cultural exchanges

What is BIMSTEC?

• Definition: BIMSTEC stands for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, a regional organization comprising seven member countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
• Purpose: It seeks to promote multi-dimensional technical and economic cooperation among countries situated around the Bay of Bengal.
• Establishment:
  • Founded in 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.
  • Initially launched with four members under the name BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand Economic Cooperation).
  • Myanmar joined in 1997, leading to the group being renamed BIMST-EC.
  • The inclusion of Nepal and Bhutan in 2004 gave rise to the current name, BIMSTEC.
• Demographic and Economic Profile:
  The BIMSTEC region collectively represents a population of 1.7 billion people (22% of the global population) and contributes a combined GDP of approximately USD 5.2 trillion (as of 2023).

Importance of BIMSTEC

• Supports India’s Act East Policy:
  BIMSTEC enhances India’s strategic outreach and economic influence in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, aligning well with the Act East Policy.
• An Alternative to SAARC:
  With SAARC facing several challenges, BIMSTEC has emerged as a more viable platform for regional cooperation in South Asia, especially with reduced friction and greater focus.
• Platform for Strategic and Security Cooperation:
  BIMSTEC plays a significant role in facilitating cooperation in security, disaster management, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
• Counterbalance to China’s BRI Influence:
  It provides a multilateral avenue to counterbalance China’s influence in the region, particularly with regard to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
• Promotion of Regional Culture and Heritage:
  India’s support for initiatives like the Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies (CBS) at Nalanda University emphasizes BIMSTEC’s role in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and strengthening regional ties.