The 6th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit, hosted by Thailand as the current chair, concluded today with a focus on strengthening regional cooperation and progress. The summit, which brought together leaders from South Asia and South-East Asia, reflected the priorities of the region's peoples and the efforts of BIMSTEC in ensuring shared growth in times of global uncertainties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the summit and delivered an address, offering condolences to the people of Myanmar and Thailand on the loss of lives in the devastating earthquake. He thanked Prime Minister Shinawatra for successfully steering the Group and highlighted BIMSTEC as a vital bridge between South Asia and South-East Asia.
The Prime Minister underlined that BIMSTEC had become an impactful platform for regional cooperation, coordination, and progress, calling for further strengthening of its agenda and capacity. He announced several India-led initiatives towards institution and capacity building in BIMSTEC, including the setting up of BIMSTEC Centres of Excellence in India on disaster management, sustainable maritime transport, traditional medicine, and research and training in agriculture.
The Prime Minister also launched a new programme for skilling the youth – BODHI (BIMSTEC for Organized Development of Human Resource Infrastructure) – which would provide training and scholarships to professionals, students, researchers, diplomats, and others. Additionally, India offered a pilot study by India to assess regional needs in digital public infrastructure and a capacity building programme for cancer care in the region.
To promote greater regional economic integration, Prime Minister Modi announced his country's willingness to establish a BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce and organize a BIMSTEC Business Summit every year in India. He also emphasized the need to build upon historic and cultural ties that bring the region together, announcing several initiatives to further strengthen people-to-people linkages.
These include hosting a BIMSTEC Athletics Meet this year and the first BIMSTEC Games in 2027, when the group celebrates its 30th anniversary. India would also host a BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival and launch a Young Leaders’ Summit, a Hackathon, and a Young Professional Visitors programme to bring the youths of the region closer.
The summit adopted several key documents, including the Summit Declaration, the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030 document, which outlines the road map for collective prosperity in the region, and the BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Agreement. The agreement provides for national treatment and assistance to vessels, crew, and cargo, mutual recognition of certificates/documents, joint shipping coordination committee, and dispute settlement mechanism.
The summit also adopted the report of the BIMSTEC Eminent Persons Group, which made recommendations for future direction for the BIMSTEC.