Daily Archives: 14 March 2024

Second Meeting of the Eminent Persons’ Group on the Future Directions of BIMSTEC

On 11 – 12 March 2024, H.E. Mr. Soonthorn Chaiyindeepum, Eminent Person from Thailand, chaired the Second Meeting of the Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG) on the Future Directions of BIMSTEC at the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Meeting was attended by the eminent persons from Member States to discuss recommendations for the future cooperation of BIMSTEC, building upon the first meeting on 25 January 2024.

The Meeting focused on ways to promote BIMSTEC’s institutional strength and foster cooperation across all 7 sectors, particularly strengthening the cooperation between BIMSTEC Core and Sectoral Mechanism, and promoting collaboration with external partners. The eminent persons were also briefed on the current status of the BIMSTEC cooperation such as Science, Technology and Innovation sector and Environment and Climate Change sector and discussed ways to advance the cooperation in the future.

The eminent persons also exchanged views with the representatives from the BIMSTEC Centre on Weather and Climate and the BIMSTEC Energy Centre on the functioning of the centres and provided recommendation to improve the operation of such centres.

BIMSTEC Eminent Persons Group results from an initiative of the BIMSTEC Leaders’ Retreat in 2016 in Goa, India, aiming at promoting BIMSTEC as a more result-oriented organization. The EPG is assigned to review the work of BIMSTEC and provide practical recommendations on the future directions of BIMSTEC that are aligned with the Bangkok Vision 2030.

More information about BIMSTEC can be retrieved from BIMSTEC Secretariat’s website at www.bimstec.org.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs receives BIMSTEC Secretary General’s introductory call

On 29 February 2024, H.E. Mr. Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, welcomed H.E. Mr. Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General of BIMSTEC, on the occasion of the latter’s introductory call during the visit to Thailand on 27 February – 1 March 2024.

Both sides discussed ways to enhance BIMSTEC’s roles and visibiltiy. These included accelerating ongoing BIMSTEC workplans, particularly finalizing the BIMSTEC FTA, and exploring new areas of cooperation, such as green and digital economy.

On this occasion, DPM/FM reiterated Thailand’s commitment, as Chair of BIMSTEC, to work closely with the BIMSTEC Secretariat. He also reaffirmed Thailand’ readiness to host the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in 2024 in Bangkok to culminate the work of Thailand’s chairmanship of BIMSTEC during the past two years.