Mr. Cherdchai Chaivaivid, Director General of the Department of International Economic Affairs, chaired the 6th Meeting of BIMSTEC Permanent Working Committee (BPWC) to discuss the cooperation mechanism of BIMSTEC during 1 – 2 February 2023 in Bangkok. The meeting successfully concluded four key documents including: (1) Rules of Procedure for Core BIMSTEC Mechanisms; (2) Rules of Procedure for BIMSTEC Sectoral Mechanisms; (3) Rules of Procedure for BIMSTEC’s External Relations and (4) Draft Terms of Reference for Eminent Persons’ Group on the Future Directions of BIMSTEC. These documents will guide the future direction for BIMSTEC while also setting the mechanism’s standard operating procedures, resulting in a more streamlined and consistent organizational structure. The Meeting also discussed the importance of ensuring that BIMSTEC stays relevant, especially in the current context of post-pandemic economic recovery. The BIMSTEC Permanent Working Committee Meeting is a core mechanism responsible for administrative and financial matters of the secretariat and preparation agenda for the BIMSTEC Senior Officials’ Meeting.

After assuming the BIMSTEC Chairmanship in March 2022, Thailand has already hosted two rounds of BIMTEC Permanent Working Committee meetings, producing many significant outcome documents which will be submitted to the 23rd Senior Officials’ Meeting and the 19th Ministerial Meeting in March 2023.

All Member States and the Secretariat have compliments to meetings hosted by Thailand which have fostered a spirit of cooperation within BIMSTEC.