View source for BIMSTEC

{{Short description|International cooperation organisation}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox Geopolitical organization
| native_name            = {{collapsible list
 | titlestyle = text-align:center;line-height:normal;font-size:84%;
 | title = {{nobold|''(in other languages)''}}
 | {{Infobox |subbox=yes |bodystyle=font-size:77%;font-weight:normal;
   | rowclass1 = mergedrow | label1 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]: | data1 = ''{{lang|bn|বঙ্গোপসাগরীয় বহুখাতীয় কারিগরি ও অর্থনৈতিক সহযোগিতা উদ্যোগ}}''
   | rowclass2 = mergedrow | label2 = [[Burmese language|Burmese]]: | data2 = ''{{lang|my|ဘင်္ဂလားပင်လယ်အော်ဒေသတွင်း ကဏ္ဍပေါင်းစုံ၊ နည်းပညာနှင့် စီးပွားရေးပူးပေါင်းဆောင်ရွက်မှု အစီအစဉ်}}''
   | rowclass3 = mergedrow | label3 = [[Dzongkha language|Dzongkha]]: | data3 = {{lang|dz|བེང་གཱལ་མཚོ་ཁའི་སྡེ་ཚན་སྣ་མང་གི་འཕྲུལ་རིག་དང་དཔལ་འབྱོར་མཉམ་ལས་ལས་འགུལ།}}
   | rowclass4 = mergedrow | label4 = [[Hindi]]: | data4 = ''{{lang|hi|बङ्गाल की खाड़ी बहुक्षेत्रीय तकनीकी एवं आर्थिक सहयोग पहल}}''
   | rowclass5 = mergedrow | label5 = [[Nepali language|Nepali]]: | data5 = ''{{lang|ne|बङ्गालको खाडी बहुक्षेत्रीय प्राविधिक तथा आर्थिक सहयोग पहल}}''
   | rowclass6 = mergedrow | label6 = [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]]: | data6 = ''{{lang|si|බෙංගාල බොක්ක ආශ්‍රිත රටවල බහු ආංශික තාක්ෂණික ආර්ථික සහයෝගීතාව සඳහා වන එකමුතුව}}''
   | rowclass7 = mergedrow | label7 = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]: | data7 = ''{{lang|ta|வங்காள விரிகுடா பல்துறை தொழில்நுட்ப பொருளாதார கூட்டுறவிற்கான முன்னெடுப்பு}}''
   | rowclass8 = mergedrow | label8 = [[Thai language|Thai]]: | data8 = ''{{lang|th|ความริเริ่มแห่งอ่าวเบงกอลสำหรับความร่วมมือหลากหลายสาขาทางวิชาการและเศรษฐกิจ}}''}}
 }}
| name                   = BIMSTEC
| image_flag             = File:BIMSTEC_flag.png
| common_name            = BIMSTEC
| linking_name           = The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
| flag_caption           = Flag<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flag - Home-The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic |url=https://bimstec.org/flag |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=bimstec.org}}</ref>
| image_symbol           = File:BIMSTEC (intergovernmental organization) logo.png
| symbol_type            = Emblem<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emblem - Home-The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic |url=https://bimstec.org/emblem |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=bimstec.org}}</ref>
| text_symbol            = 
| text_symbol_type       = Emblem
| alt_symbol             = <!-- alt text for symbol -->
| symbol_width           = <!-- Symbol image's width (default 85px) -->
| motto                  = <!-- "[motto]" -->
| englishmotto           = <!--English language version of motto-->
| image_map              = File:BIMSTEC (orthographic projection).svg
| loctext                = <!--text description of location of organisation-->
| religion_year          = 2025
| alt_map                = <!-- alt text for map image -->
| map_caption            = Location of BIMSTEC in [[Asia]]
| org_type               = [[Regional organisation]]
| membership_type        = 
| membership             = {{unbulleted list
   <!--Alphabetical:-->
  |{{flagcountry|Bangladesh}}
  |{{flagcountry|Bhutan}}
  |{{flagcountry|India}}
  |{{flagcountry|Myanmar}}
  |{{flagcountry|Nepal}}
  |{{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}
  |{{flagcountry|Thailand}}
 }}
| admin_center_type      = Headquarters
| largest_city           = [[Mumbai]], India<br>{{Coord|19|04|34|N|72|52|39|E|type:landmark}}
| leader_title2          = Secretary General
| leader_name2           = {{flagcountry|India}} (since 2023)<ref>{{cite news |title=Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey assumes charge of BIMSTEC Secretary General|url=https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=Ambassador-Indra-Mani-Pandey-assumes-charge-of-BIMSTEC-Secretary-General%3A&id=474614 |work= |date=5 January 2024 |access-date=13 January 2024}}</ref>
| coordinates            = {{Coord|23|45|50|N|90|23|20|E|type:landmark}}
| admin_center           = [[Dhaka]], Bangladesh<ref>{{cite news|title=Nepal unlikely to host fourth 'Bimstec' summit this year|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/nepal-unlikely-to-host-fourth-bimstec-summit-this-year-116060300847_1.html|website=Business Standard India|access-date=17 December 2016|date=3 June 2016}}</ref>
| languages_type         = Working language
| languages              = [[English language|English]]
| languages2_type        = Official languages
of contracting states
| languages2             = {{hlist|[[Bengali language|Bengali]]|[[Burmese language|Burmese]]|[[Dzongkha]]|[[English language|English]]|[[Hindi]]|[[Nepali language|Nepali]]|[[Sinhalese language|Sinhalese]]|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]|[[Thai language|Thai]]}}
| leader_title1          = Chairmanship
| leader_name1           = {{flagcountry|Bangladesh }} (since March 2025)<ref name="BIMSTEC2018">{{cite news|url=https://www.mfa.go.th/en/content/bimstec-summit-2?page=5d5bd3cb15e39c306002a9ac&menu=5d5bd3cb15e39c306002a9ae| title=Thailand has assumed the chairmanship of BIMSTEC for 2022 – 2023 for prosperous, resilient and robust, and open Bay of Bengal region| date=30 March 2022| access-date= 30 March 2022}}</ref>
| established            = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1997|06|06}}
| official_website       = {{URL|https://bimstec.org/}}
| area_magnitude         = 
| area_km2               = 4,876,941 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| area_sq_mi             = {{Convert|4,876,941|km2|sqmi|disp=number}} <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| area_footnote          = <!-- optional footnote for area -->
| percent_water          = 
| area_label             = Total
| area_dabodyalign       = <!-- text after area_label2 (optional) -->
| population_estimate    = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 1,804,212,400
| population_estimate_year = 2025
| population_density_km2 = 369.9
| population_density_sq_mi = 958.2
| GDP_PPP                = {{increase}} $22.2 trillion<ref name="imf.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2015/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=88&pr.y=15&sy=2015&ey=2015&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512,556,513,514,558,564,524,534&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP&grp=0&a=|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects|work=imf.org}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year           = 2025
| GDP_PPP_rank           = 
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = {{increase}}  $12,275
| GDP_nominal            = {{increase}} $5.41 trillion<ref name="imf.org"/>
| GDP_nominal_year       = 2025
| GDP_nominal_rank       = 
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{increase}}  $3,001
| Gini                   = <!-- number only, 0-100 -->
| Gini_ref               = <!-- for any ref/s to associate with Gini number -->
| Gini_year              = 
| HDI                    = 0.687
| HDI_change             = increase
| HDI_ref                = 
| HDI_year               = 2023
| currency               = 
| currency_code          = 
| time_zone              = 
| utc_offset             = +5:30 to +7:00
| religion               = {{ubl
 | 60.1% [[Hinduism]]
 | 18.3% [[Islam]]
 | 16.7% [[Buddhism]]
 | 2.1% [[Christianity]]
 | 1.2% [[Sikhism]]
 | 0.3% [[Jainism in India|Jainism]]
 | 0.2% [[Irreligion|no religion]]
 | 0.04% [[Zoroastrianism]]
 | 0.04% [[Baháʼí Faith]]
 | 0.01% [[Judaism]]
 | 0.9% [[Religion in South Asia|other]]
 }}
| religion_ref           = <ref>https://x.com/i/grok/share/tyeBVDJ00EgHWOQf05daiTGUO</ref>
| demonym                = 
| today                  = 
| conventional_long_name = Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
}}

The '''Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation''' ('''BIMSTEC''') is an international organization of seven South Asian and Southeast Asian nations, housing 1.73 billion people and having a combined gross domestic product of US$5.2 trillion (2023).<ref name=lead1/><ref name=lead3>{{Cite web|url=https://bimstec.org/|title=BIMSTEC SECRETARIAT|first=Home-The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and|last=Economic|website=bimstec.org}}</ref> The BIMSTEC member states – [[Bangladesh]], [[Bhutan]], [[India]], [[Myanmar]], [[Nepal]], [[Sri Lanka]], and [[Thailand]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/op-ed/economics/regional-economic-integration-the-bay-bengal-660181 |title=Regional economic integration in the Bay of Bengal |date=25 February 2016}}</ref> – are among the [[countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal]].

Fourteen priority sectors of cooperation have been identified and several BIMSTEC centers have been established to focus on those sectors.<ref name="lead1" /><ref name="lead5" /> A BIMSTEC [[free trade agreement]] is under negotiation {{as of|2018}},  referred to as similar to [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation|SAARC]].

Leadership is rotated in alphabetical order of country names. The permanent secretariat is in [[Dhaka]], Bangladesh.

== Background ==
On 6 June 1997, a new sub-regional grouping was formed in [[Bangkok]] under the name BIST-EC ([[Bangladesh]], [[India]], [[Sri Lanka]], and [[Thailand]] Economic Cooperation).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Haidar |first1=Suhasini |title=BIMSTEC a sunny prospect in BRICS summit at Goa |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/bimstec-outreach-likely-to-pep-up-rocky-brics-summit-at-goa/article9224549.ece |access-date=16 October 2016 |work=The Hindu |date=15 October 2016 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=BRICS Summit 2016: BIMSTEC members have economic opportunities to share, said Narendra Modi |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/brics-summit-2016-bimstec-members-have-economic-opportunities-to-share-said-narendra-modi/articleshow/54883267.cms |website=The Economic Times |access-date=16 October 2016}}</ref> Following the inclusion of Myanmar on 22 December 1997 during a special Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok, the Group was renamed 'BIMST-EC' (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation). In 1998, Nepal became an observer. In February 2004, Nepal and [[Bhutan]]  became full members.

On 31 July 2004, in the first Summit the grouping was renamed as BIMSTEC or the [[Bay of Bengal]] Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.<ref>See for a detailed historical account of the founding and evolution of BIST-EC and BIMST-EC e.g. Michael, Arndt (2013). India's Foreign Policy and Regional Multilateralism (Palgrave Macmillan), pp. 145–163.</ref>

== Objective ==
There are 14 main sectors of BIMSTEC along technological and economic cooperation among South Asian and Southeast Asian countries along the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

# Trade & Investment
# Transport & Communication
# Energy
# Tourism
# Technology
# Fisheries
# Agriculture
# Public Health
# Poverty Alleviation
# Counter-Terrorism & Transnational Crime
# Environment & Disaster Management
# People-to-People Contact
# Cultural Cooperation
# Climate Change

Sectors 7 to 13 were added at the 8th Ministerial Meeting in Dhaka in 2005 while the 14th sector was added in 11th Ministerial Meeting in New Delhi in 2008.

Member nations are denoted as Lead Countries for each sector.
* Provides cooperation to one another for the provision of training and research facilities in educational vocational and technical fields
* Promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in economic, social, technical and scientific fields of common interest
* Provides help to increase the socio-economic growth of the member countries

== Permanent Secretariat ==
The '''BIMSTEC Permanent Secretariat''' at [[Dhaka]] was opened in 2014 and India contributes 32% of its expenditure.<ref name=lead1/><ref name=lead2>{{Cite web |url=http://bimstec.org/area-of-cooperation/ |title=Area of cooperation |access-date=21 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052951/http://bimstec.org/area-of-cooperation/ |archive-date=22 December 2017}}</ref> The current [[Secretary General]] of the BIMSTEC is Ambassador [[Indra Mani Pandey]] from India.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
! Date
! Country
! Secretary General of the BIMSTEC
|-
| 1
| 2014–2017
| {{flag|Sri Lanka}}
| [[Sumith Nakandala]]
|-
| 2
| 2017–2020
| {{flag|Bangladesh}}
| [[M Shahidul Islam]]
|-
| 3
| 2020–2023
| {{flag|Bhutan}}
| [[Tenzin Lekphell]]
|-
|-
| 4
| 2024–present
| {{flag|India}}
| Indra Mani Pandey
|-
|}

== Chairmanship ==
The BIMSTEC uses the alphabetical order for the Chairmanship. The Chairmanship of the BIMSTEC has been taken in rotation commencing with 

{{flagcountry|Bangladesh}} (1997–1999, 2005–2006, 2025–Present)

{{flagcountry|India}} (2000, 2006–2008)

{{flagcountry|Myanmar}} (2001–2002, 2009–2014)

{{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}} (2002–2003, 2018–2022)

{{flagcountry|Thailand}} (2004–2005, 2022–2024)

{{flagcountry|Nepal}} (2015–2018).<ref>{{cite news |title=Third BIMSTEC Summit Declaration |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=104505 |access-date=4 April 2025 |work=Press Information Bureau, Government of India |date=4 March 2014 |format=PDF}}</ref>

== Member nations ==
; Notes:
: (*) = [[Chief executive (gubernatorial)|Chief executive]]
: § =

{{Supranational Asian Bodies|align=right|size=380px}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Countries
![[Head of state]]
![[Head of government]]
!Population
![[Gross domestic product|Nominal GDP]] / {{USD}}billion<ref name="GDP IMF">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=57&pr.y=17&sy=2019&ey=2019&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C668%2C914%2C672%2C612%2C946%2C614%2C137%2C311%2C546%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C314%2C548%2C193%2C556%2C122%2C678%2C912%2C181%2C313%2C867%2C419%2C682%2C513%2C684%2C316%2C273%2C913%2C868%2C124%2C921%2C339%2C948%2C638%2C943%2C514%2C686%2C218%2C688%2C963%2C518%2C616%2C728%2C223%2C836%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C962%2C156%2C142%2C626%2C449%2C628%2C564%2C228%2C565%2C924%2C283%2C233%2C853%2C632%2C288%2C636%2C293%2C634%2C566%2C238%2C964%2C662%2C182%2C960%2C359%2C423%2C453%2C935%2C968%2C128%2C922%2C611%2C714%2C321%2C862%2C243%2C135%2C248%2C716%2C469%2C456%2C253%2C722%2C642%2C942%2C643%2C718%2C939%2C724%2C734%2C576%2C644%2C936%2C819%2C961%2C172%2C813%2C132%2C726%2C646%2C199%2C648%2C733%2C915%2C184%2C134%2C524%2C652%2C361%2C174%2C362%2C328%2C364%2C258%2C732%2C656%2C366%2C654%2C144%2C336%2C146%2C263%2C463%2C268%2C528%2C532%2C923%2C944%2C738%2C176%2C578%2C534%2C537%2C536%2C742%2C429%2C866%2C433%2C369%2C178%2C744%2C436%2C186%2C136%2C925%2C343%2C869%2C158%2C746%2C439%2C926%2C916%2C466%2C664%2C112%2C826%2C111%2C542%2C298%2C967%2C927%2C443%2C846%2C917%2C299%2C544%2C582%2C941%2C474%2C446%2C754%2C666%2C698&s=NGDPD&grp=0&a= |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2019 |date=15 October 2019 |website=IMF.org |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]]|access-date=3 September 2019}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Bangladesh}}
|[[Mohammed Shahabuddin]], [[President of Bangladesh]]
|[[Muhammad Yunus]], [[Chief Adviser of Bangladesh]] (*)
| align=right | {{UN_Population|Bangladesh}}
| align=right | 419.237
|-
|{{flag|Bhutan}}
|[[Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck]], [[King of Bhutan]]
|[[Tshering Tobgay]], [[Prime Minister of Bhutan]] (*)
| align=right | {{UN_Population|Bhutan}}
| align=right | 2.653
|-
|{{Flag|India}}
|[[Droupadi Murmu]], [[President of India]]
|[[Narendra Modi]], [[Prime Minister of India]] (*)
| align=right | {{UN_Population|India}}
| align=right | 3,937.743
|-
|{{Flag|Myanmar}}
| [[Myint Swe]], Acting [[President of Myanmar]]
| [[Min Aung Hlaing]], [[Prime Minister of Myanmar]] (*) §{{Efn|name=Myanmar junta|The [[President of Myanmar|president]] is the constitutional chief executive, but Acting President [[Myint Swe]] has delegated his executive authority to military leader [[Min Aung Hlaing]] for the duration of an [[2021 Myanmar coup d'état|ongoing state of emergency]].}}
| align=right | {{UN_Population|Myanmar}}
| align=right | 69.262
|-
|{{Flag|Nepal}}
|[[Ram Chandra Poudel]], [[President of Nepal]]
|[[K. P. Sharma Oli]], [[Prime Minister of Nepal]] (*)
| align=right | 31,122,378
| align=right | 41.393
|-
|{{Flag|Sri Lanka}}
|[[Anura Kumara Dissanayake]], [[President of Sri Lanka]] (*)
|[[Harini Amarasuriya]], [[Prime Minister of Sri Lanka]]
| align=right | {{UN_Population|Sri Lanka}}
| align=right | 81.934
|-
|{{Flag|Thailand}}
|[[Vajiralongkorn]] (Rama X), [[King of Thailand]]
|[[Paetongtarn Shinawatra]], [[Prime Minister of Thailand]] (*)
| align=right | {{UN_Population|Thailand}}
| align=right | 522.012
|}

===Heads of the member nations=== 
Leaders are either [[head of state|heads of state]] or [[head of government|heads of government]], depending on which is constitutionally the [[Chief executive (gubernatorial)|chief executive]] of the nation's government.

<gallery class="center" widths="150" heights="200" classes="center">
File:Muhammad Yunus (cropped).jpg| {{flagicon image|Flag of Bangladesh.svg}} [[People's Republic of Bangladesh]]<br>'''[[Muhammad Yunus]]'''<br>[[Chief Adviser of Bangladesh]]
File:Tshering Tobgay.jpg|alt=Kingdom of Bhutan Lotay Tshering Prime Minister of Bhutan|{{flag|Bhutan|name=Kingdom of Bhutan}}<br />'''[[Tshering Tobgay]]'''<br />[[List of prime ministers of Bhutan|Prime Minister of Bhutan]]
File:Official Photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Portrait.png|alt=Republic of India Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India|{{flag|Republic of India}}<br />'''[[Narendra Modi]]'''<br />[[Prime Minister of India]]
File:Мин Аун Хлайн в Татарстане 04 (25-06-2021) (cropped 3).jpg|alt=Republic of the Union of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing Prime Minister of Myanmar|{{flag|Republic of the Union of Myanmar}}<br /> '''[[Min Aung Hlaing]]'''<br />[[Prime Minister of Myanmar]]{{efn|name=Myanmar junta}}
File:The Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli calls on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on April 06, 2018 (cropped).jpg|alt=Federal Democratic Republic of NepalKhadga Prasad Sharma OliPrime Minister of Nepal|{{flag|Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal}}<br>'''[[K. P. Sharma Oli|Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli]]'''<br>[[Prime Minister of Nepal]]
File:President of Sri Lanka Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayak, Official portrait (December 2024).jpg|alt=Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Anura Kumara Dissanayake President of Sri Lanka|{{flag|Sri Lanka|name=Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka}}<br>'''[[Anura Kumara Dissanayake]]'''<br>[[President of Sri Lanka]]
File:PM Paetongtarn of Thailand (2024) 01 (cropped) (cropped).jpg|alt=Kingdom of Thailand Paetongtarn Shinawatra Prime Minister of Thailand|{{flag|Thailand|name=Kingdom of Thailand}}<br />'''[[Paetongtarn Shinawatra]]'''<br />[[Prime Minister of Thailand]]
</gallery>

== BIMSTEC priority sectors ==
14 priority areas have been identified with the lead nations appointed to lead the effort:<ref name=lead1>[http://www.indiawrites.org/bimstec-building-bridges-between-south-asia-southeast-asia/ BIMSTEC: Building bridges between South Asia & Southeast Asia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051536/http://www.indiawrites.org/bimstec-building-bridges-between-south-asia-southeast-asia/ |date=22 December 2017 }}, IndiaWrites, 2014.</ref><ref name=lead5>{{Cite web|url=http://bimstec.org/sectors/energy/|title=Energy|website=bimstec.org|language=en-US|access-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206152918/http://bimstec.org/sectors/energy/|archive-date=6 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bimstec.org/index.php?page=sectors |title=BIMSTC sectors |access-date=22 January 2017 |archive-date=29 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170529212023/http://www.bimstec.org/index.php?page=sectors |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The organisation has 15 priority areas for cooperation, including Trade & Investment, Transport & Communication, Energy, Tourism, Technology, Fisheries, Agriculture, Public Health, Poverty Alleviation, Counter-Terrorism & Transnational Crime, Environment & Disaster Management, People-to-People Contact, Cultural Cooperation, Climate Change and Blue Economy.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Priority Area
! Lead Country
! Centre
! Comments
|-
|| Transport and communication || rowspan="4" | {{IND}} ||  ||
|-
|| Tourism || BIMSTEC Tourism Information Centre, Delhi ||
|-
|| Counterterrorism and transnational crime || || Four subgroups: Intelligence sharing – Sri Lanka (lead), <br /> Terror financing –  Thailand, <br /> Legal – Myanmar, <br /> Law enforcement and narcotics – Myanmar
|-
|| Environment and disaster management || BIMSTEC Weather and Climate Centre, [[Noida]] ||
|-
|| Energy || {{flag|Myanmar}} || BIMSTEC Energy Centre, [[Bengaluru]] || BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection MoU signed in 2014<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sasec.asia/index.php?page=news&nid=659&url=india-cabinet-approves-bimstec|title=India Cabinet Approves Signing of BIMSTEC Power Grid Pact {{!}} News {{!}} South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation|website=www.sasec.asia|language=en-US|access-date=6 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2017-11-06/nepal-to-join-bimstec-grid-interconnection.html|title=Nepal to join BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection|access-date=6 December 2017|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|| Public Health || {{flag|Thailand}} || BIMSTEC Network of National Centres on Coordination in Traditional Medicine ||
|-
|| Agriculture || {{flag|Myanmar}}  ||  ||
|-
|| Trade & Investment || {{flag|Bangladesh}} ||  ||
|-
|| Technology || {{flag|Sri Lanka}} ||  ||
|-
|| Fisheries || {{flag|Thailand}} ||  ||
|-
|| People-to-People Contact || {{flag|Thailand}} ||  ||
|-
|| Poverty Alleviation || {{flag|Nepal}} ||  ||
|-
|| Climate Change || {{flag|Bangladesh}} ||  ||
|-
|| Cultural Cooperation || {{flag|Bhutan}} ||  || 1200 ITEC scholarships by India
|}

In a virtual BIMSTEC Colombo summit which took place on 30 March 2022, decision was taken to reduce, re-constitute and reconstruct the number of sectors of co-operation from the unwieldy 14 to a more manageable 7.
# Trade, Investment and Development - '''Bangladesh'''
# Environment and Climate Change - '''Bhutan'''
# Security and Energy - '''India'''
# Agriculture and Food Security - '''Myanmar'''
# People-to-people Contact - '''Nepal'''
# Science, Technology and Innovation - '''Sri Lanka'''
# Connectivity - '''Thailand'''

== BIMSTEC Free Trade Area Framework Agreement ==
The '''BIMSTEC Free Trade Area Framework Agreement (BFTAFA)''' has been signed by all member nations to stimulate trade and investment in the parties, and attract outsiders to trade with and invest in the BIMSTEC countries at a higher level. Subsequently, the ''"Trade Negotiating Committee"'' (TNC) was set up, with Thailand as the permanent chair, to negotiate in areas of trade in goods and services, investment, economic co-operation, trade facilitations and technical assistance n. for LDCs. Once negotiation on trade in goods is completed, the TNC would then proceed with negotiation on trade in services and investment.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://asianews.eu/content/bimstec-committee-mulls-free-trade-deal-dhaka-85786| title=Bimstec committee mulls free trade deal in Dhaka| date=13 November 2018| access-date=30 March 2019| archive-date=30 March 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330010611/http://asianews.eu/content/bimstec-committee-mulls-free-trade-deal-dhaka-85786| url-status=dead}}</ref>

The '''BIMSTEC Coastal Shipping Agreement''' draft was discussed on 1 December 2017 in New Delhi, to facilitate coastal shipping within 20 nautical miles of the coastline in the region to boost trade between the member countries. Compared to the deep sea shipping, coastal ship require smaller vessels with lesser draft and involve lower costs. Once the agreement becomes operational after it is ratified, a lot of cargo movement between the member countries can be done through the cost effective, environment friendly and faster coastal shipping routes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=174036 |title=BIMSTEC Member States discuss draft text of Coastal Shipping Agreement}}</ref>
The necessity for coastal shipping ecosystem and electricity grid interconnectivity, as two of the necessary components of the evolving shape of BIMSTEC.

On 7 and 8 November 2019, the first ever '''BIMSTEC Conclave of Ports''' summit was held in [[Visakhapatnam]], India.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/32010/First+BIMSTEC+Conclave+of+Ports+Vishakhapatnam+November+78+2019 |title = First BIMSTEC Conclave of Ports, Vishakhapatnam (November 7-8, 2019)}}</ref> The main aims of this summit is providing a platform to strengthen maritime interaction, port-led connectivity initiatives and sharing best practices among member countries.

In 2022 summit saw the declaration of the Master Plan for Transport Connectivity that would provide a framework for regional and domestic connectivity,

== Cooperation with Asian Development Bank (ADB) ==
The [[Asian Development Bank]] (ADB) becomes a partner in 2005, to undertake the "BIMSTEC Transport Infrastructure and Logistic Study" (BTILS), which was completed in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/kavita-iyengar-RPDSTCSA-20nov2014.pdf|title=BIMSTEC Transport Infrastructure and Logistic Study}}</ref>

==BIMSTEC Summits==
[[File:The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh alongwith the other Heads of State attending the BIMST-EC Summit pose for a group photograph, in New Delhi on November 13, 2008.jpg|thumb|Second Summit at New Delhi, India]]
[[File:PM Narendra Modi attends the 6th BIMSTEC Summit at Bangkok, in Thailand on April 04, 2025.jpg|thumb|Sixth Summit at [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]]]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
! Date
! Host country
! Host city
|-
| 1st
| 31 July 2004
| {{flag|Thailand}}
| [[Bangkok]]
|-
| 2nd
| 13 November 2008
| {{flag|India}}
| New Delhi
|-
| 3rd
| 4 March 2014
| {{flag|Myanmar}}
| [[Naypyidaw]]<ref>{{cite web|title=BIMSTEC Summit|url=http://www.bimstec.org/index.php?page=bimstec-summit|website=Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation|access-date=17 December 2016|archive-date=14 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114233639/http://www.bimstec.org/index.php?page=bimstec-summit|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 4th
| 30–31 August 2018
| {{flag|Nepal}}
| [[Kathmandu]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Nepal proposes dates for Bimstec Summit |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/nepal-proposes-dates-for-bimstec-summit-118060500116_1.html |website=Business Standard India |access-date=1 July 2018 |date=5 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="BIMSTEC2018" /><ref name="JJBIMSTECSL">{{cite web |date=31 August 2018 |title=4th BIMSTEC Summit: Kathmandu Declaration adopted by Member States |url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/4th-bimstec-summit-2018-held-1535606162-1 |access-date=31 August 2018}}</ref>
|-
| 5th
| 30 March 2022
| {{flag|Sri Lanka}}
| [[Colombo]] ([[Web conferencing|Virtual meeting]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=5th BIMSTEC Summit, Sri Lanka (March 30, 2022) |url=https://mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/35077/5th+BIMSTEC+Summit+Sri+Lanka+March+30+2022 |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=mea.gov.in}}</ref>
|-
| 6th
| 2-4 April 2025
| {{flag|Thailand}}
| [[Bangkok]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-04 |title=Thailand Hails BIMSTEC Summit Success, Six Key Agreements Secured |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/news/world/40048347 |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=nationthailand |language=en-US}}</ref>
|}
Upcoming Summit 7th BIMSTEC Summit 
Host country Bangladesh

== Projects ==
* Coast shipping
* Power grid interconnection
* Regional disaster monitoring and warning system
* Road and rail [[India–Myanmar barrier#Look-East Connectivity|Look-East connectivity projects]]
* MILEX-18:The first-ever BIMSTEC Multinational Military Field Training Exercise (MILEX-18) was held in Pune, India from 10–16 September 2018. The exercise was attended by all seven BIMSTEC member countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

The theme of the exercise was counter-terrorism in semi-urban terrain. The participating troops conducted a series of exercises, including search-and-cordon operations, search and destroy, and handling and neutralisation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). They also participated in a validation exercise on the final day of the exercise.

The MILEX-18 was a major success and was hailed as a significant step towards increased military cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region. The exercise helped to improve interoperability between the participating forces and to share best practices in the field of counter-terrorism. It also helped to build trust and confidence among the BIMSTEC member countries.

The MILEX-18 was a major boost to the BIMSTEC security cooperation agenda. It is expected to pave the way for more such exercises in the future, which will help to further enhance the security cooperation between the BIMSTEC member countries.

In addition to the military exercises, the MILEX-18 also included a number of other activities, such as an Army Chiefs' Conclave and a seminar on counter-terrorism. The Army Chiefs' Conclave was an opportunity for the participating countries to discuss and share their views on regional security issues. The seminar on counter-terrorism provided a forum for the participants to learn about the latest trends in terrorism and to discuss ways to counter it.

The MILEX-18 was a landmark event in the history of BIMSTEC. It was a major step towards increased military cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region and it is expected to have a positive impact on regional security.

The following are some of the key outcomes of the MILEX-18:

Improved interoperability between the participating forces.
Sharing of best practices in the field of counter-terrorism.
Building of trust and confidence among the BIMSTEC member countries.
Paving the way for more such exercises in the future.
Boost to the BIMSTEC security cooperation agenda.
The MILEX-18 was a major success and it is a positive sign for the future of BIMSTEC security cooperation. The exercise helped to build trust and confidence among the member countries and it is expected to further enhance their cooperation in the field of security.

== See also ==
* [[ASEAN]] & [[India–Myanmar barrier#Look-East Connectivity|Look-East connectivity projects]]
* [[Asia Cooperation Dialogue]]
* [[Asian Clearing Union]]
* [[Asian Development Bank]]
* [[BBIN|Bangladesh Bhutan India Nepal Initiative]] (BBIN)
* [[8th BRICS summit#BRICS-BIMSTEC Summit|BRICS-BIMSTEC Summit, 2016]]
* [[Mekong-Ganga Cooperation]]
* [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation]] (SAARC)
* [[South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation]]

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|bimstec.org}}
* [https://bimstec.org/fta/ BIMSTEC free trade agreement]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180902220614/https://www.modisarkar.tk/2018/09/2018-bimstec-bay-of-initiative-for.html?m=1 2018 BIMSTEC Summit]

{{Foreign relations of Bangladesh}}
{{Foreign relations of India}}
{{Regional organizations}}
{{Asia topics}}

[[Category:1997 establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:International economic organizations]]
[[Category:International organizations based in Asia]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1997]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Bhutan]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of India]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Myanmar]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Nepal]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Thailand]]
[[Category:Bay of Bengal]]