Cooperate - BIMSTEC

BIMSTEC Member States and Sectors of Cooperation

Bangladesh

One of the founding members of BIMSTEC, Bangladesh has been home to the BIMSTEC Secretariat since 2014. It is currently the Lead Country in the Trade, Investment and Development sector, with a primary mission to advance the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area (FTA).

Key cooperation mechanism:

BIMSTEC Working Group on Rules of Origin (WG-RoO)
BIMSTEC Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC)

Bhutan

Bhutan joined BIMSTEC in February 2004. Bhutan is currently the Lead Country in the Environment and Climate Change Sector and has proposed the establishment of the BIMSTEC Joint Working Group on Environment and Climate to address environmental concerns within the BIMSTEC region. The incumbent Secretary General of BIMSTEC, H.E. Mr. Tenzin Lekphell, is Bhutanese.

Key cooperation mechanism:

BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate (BCWC)

India

One of the founding members of BIMSTEC, India is currently the Lead Country in the Security Sector, placing emphasis on various aspects of security issues, such as the issues of combating transnational crimes and maritime security.

Key cooperation mechanism:

BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters
BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking

Myanmar

Joining BIMSTEC on 22 December 1997, Myanmar is currently the Lead Country in the Agriculture and Food Security Sector.

Key cooperation mechanism:

BIMSTEC Expert Group on Agricultural Cooperation

Nepal

Joining BIMSTEC in February 2004, Nepal is the Lead Country in the People-to-People Contact Sector, of which the Sub-sectors are 1) Culture 2) Tourism and 3) People-to-People Contact Forums.

Key cooperation mechanism:

Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission (BCIC) and BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory (BCIO)

Sri Lanka

One of the founding members of BIMSTEC, Sri Lanka is currently the Lead Country in the Science, Technology and Innovation Sector, covering issues of technology, public health, and human resource development.

Key cooperation mechanism:

Memorandum of Association on the Establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF)
BIMSTEC Task Force on Traditional Medicine (BTFTM)

Thailand

One of the founding members of BIMSTEC, Thailand is the Lead Country in the Connectivity Sector. Its goal is to promote connectivity in terms of infrastructure, transportation, energy, digitalization, rules and standards, markets, public sector involvement, and the continuity of supply chains.

Key cooperation mechanism:

BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity
BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Cooperation (under negotiation)