BIMSTEC
Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
BIMSTEC is a regional multilateral organization established in 1997 comprising seven member states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. It serves as the primary platform connecting South Asia and Southeast Asia around the Bay of Bengal littoral zone, covering a combined GDP of approximately USD 5.2 trillion (2023) and a population of 1.73 billion. Unlike SAARC, BIMSTEC has remained functional and summit-active, making it an important vehicle for India's "Act East" pivot.
- Founded: June 6, 1997 (Bangkok Declaration); originally as BIST-EC, expanded to BIMSTEC in 1997
- Headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 14 priority sectors of cooperation including trade, energy, transport, tourism, environment, public health
- 4th Secretary General: Indra Mani Pandey (India), assumed charge in 2022
- Bangladesh holds the BIMSTEC Chairmanship 2025–present
- 6th BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok in 2025
● Tracked since March 23, 2026 · last seen July 27, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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