Nepal and BIMSTEC

Nepal and BIMSTEC

Introduction

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) was established on 6 June 1997 through the adoption of the Bangkok Declaration. It evolved from BIST-EC (Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation). Following Myanmar"s accession on 22 December 1997, and the entry of Nepal and Bhutan on 8 February 2004, the grouping assumed its present form and name, which were formally endorsed by the First BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok in 2004.

BIMSTEC comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka from South Asia, and Myanmar and Thailand from Southeast Asia, serving as a bridge between the two regions. Together, the Member States are home to over 1.8 billion people and account for a combined GDP exceeding USD 4.5 trillion.

As enshrined in its Charter, BIMSTEC aims to promote rapid economic growth, social progress, peace and stability, and cooperation on matters of common interest across the Bay of Bengal region.

Areas of Cooperation

During the Fifth BIMSTEC Summit held in Colombo in 2022, the organization"s 14 priority areas were streamlined into seven sectors to enhance the effectiveness and coherence of regional cooperation. The sectors, sub-sectors and their lead countries are as follows:

SN

Sector

Sub-sector(s)

Lead Country

Trade, Investment and Development
  1. Blue Economy

Bangladesh

Environment and Climate Change

  1. Mountain Economy

Bhutan

Security
  1. Energy
  2. Disaster Management
  3. Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime

India

Agriculture and Food Security

  1. Agriculture

Fisheries and Livestock

Myanmar

People-to-People Contact
  1. Tourism
  2. Culture
  3. Poverty Alleviation
  4. People-to-People Contact Forums

Nepal

Science, Technology and Innovation
  1. Technology
  2. Health
  3. Human Resource Development

Sri Lanka

Connectivity

Thailand

Institutional Mechanisms

BIMSTEC Summit is the highest policymaking body of the BIMSTEC process, comprising the Heads of State or Government of the Member States. It deliberates on and provide guidance regarding key policy matters, addresses emergency situations, decides on admission of new members or observers and authorizes the establishment or dissolution of organizational bodies and entities. The Summit is held biennially and the Chairmanship rotates among Member States in alphabetical order.

Six BIMSTEC Summits have been held so far: Bangkok (2004), New Delhi (2008), Nay Pyi Taw (2014), Kathmandu (2018), Colombo (2022), and Bangkok (2025). Bangladesh currently holds the BIMSTEC Chairmanship, having assumed the role following the Sixth Summit in April 2025. Nepal previously chaired BIMSTEC from 2014 to 2018.

The Fourth BIMSTEC Summit was held in Kathmandu on 30-31 August 2018 under the theme of “Towards a Peaceful, Prosperous and Sustainable Bay of Bengal Region”. A key outcome of the Summit was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection.

The Fifth BIMSTEC Summit was convened in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 30 March 2022 in a hybrid format under the theme “BIMSTEC: Towards a Resilient Region, Prosperous Economies, and Healthy People.” The Nepali delegation was led by then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. The Summit adopted the BIMSTEC Charter, which entered into force on 20 May 2024.

The Sixth BIMSTEC Summit was held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 4 April 2025 under the theme “Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC.” The Nepali delegation was led by then Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli. The Summit adopted several key outcome documents, including the Bangkok Vision 2030, the Declaration of the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit, the Rules of Procedure for BIMSTEC Mechanisms, and the Report of the Eminent Persons Group on the Future Direction of BIMSTEC. It also witnessed the signing of the Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation, as well as Memoranda of Understanding between BIMSTEC and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and between BIMSTEC and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting (MM), comprising the Foreign/External Ministers of the Member States, is another policymaking body responsible for coordinating overall regional cooperation, preparing for the Summit, and overseeing the implementation of agreements and decisions adopted by the Summit. Convened annually, it also liaises with sectoral ministerial bodies to strengthen policy coherence and operational efficiency, while performing important institutional functions such as the appointment of the Secretary General and approval of the budget of the Secretariat and BIMSTEC centres and entities. The Twentieth BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 3 April 2025, ahead of the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit.

BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers" Retreat was initiated by Thailand during its Chairmanship to promote candid exchanges and strengthen regional solidarity. The first Retreat was held in Bangkok on 17 July 2023, while the second was hosted by India in New Delhi on 11-12 July 2024. The Foreign Ministers" Retreat provides an informal platform to review BIMSTEC cooperation, discuss institutional reforms, and exchange views on regional and global issues.

BIMSTEC Sectoral Ministerial Meetings bring together ministers responsible for specific areas of cooperation. Convened as necessary, these meetings oversee the implementation of Summit decisions and agreements within their respective sectors and sub-sectors, strengthen sectoral cooperation and submit reports and recommendations to the BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting for consideration by the Summit. They also review, approve and take appropriate action on the deliberations and recommendations of the BIMSTEC Sectoral Senior Officials" Meetings.

BIMSTEC Senior Officials" Meeting (SOM), comprising Foreign Secretaries or equivalent officials nominated by Member States, precedes the Ministerial Meeting and is held annually. It prepares for Ministerial Meetings, coordinates implementation of decisions, reviews the work of the BIMSTEC Permanent Working Committee and reports directly to the Ministerial Meeting. Twenty-five sessions of the SOM have been held to date, with the latest one convened in Bangkok on 2 April 2025. Nepal hosted the Seventeenth, Eighteenth, and Nineteenth Sessions in Kathmandu in February 2017, August 2017, and August 2018, respectively.

BIMSTEC Permanent Working Committee (BPWC), established pursuant to the decision of the Fourth BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu in 2018, comprises National Focal Points of Member States at the level of Joint Secretary, Director General, or equivalent. Meeting at least twice annually, the Committee oversees organizational, administrative, and budgetary matters; prepares the BIMSTEC calendar of activities; prioritizes programmes and initiatives; and reports to the Senior Officials" Meeting. The Ninth Meeting of the BPWC was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 7-8 April 2026.

BIMSTEC Secretariat serves as the administrative and coordinating body of the organization. Following the signing of the Memorandum of Association on the Establishment of a Permanent BIMSTEC Secretariat, it was formally inaugurated in Dhaka on 13 September 2014. The Secretariat is headed by a Secretary General, appointed by the Ministerial Meeting upon the recommendation of the Senior Officials" Meeting from nominations submitted by Member States in alphabetical order. The Secretary General serves a non-renewable three-year term at ambassadorial rank and is responsible for coordinating, facilitating, and monitoring the implementation of BIMSTEC decisions and agreements, representing BIMSTEC externally, and submitting annual reports to the Ministerial Meeting.

H.E. Indra Mani Pandey of India is the current Secretary General and assumed office on 4 January 2024. Previous Secretaries General include H.E. Sumith Nakandala of Sri Lanka (2014-2017), H.E. M. Shahidul Islam of Bangladesh (2017-2020), and H.E. Tenzin Lekphell of Bhutan (2020-2023).

Cooperation Initiatives in BIMSTEC

  1. Trade, Investment and Development Sector

Trade, Investment and Development has been a core priority area of BIMSTEC since its inception, reflecting the region"s strong potential for intra-regional trade, investment, and economic integration. Bangladesh is the Lead Country for this sector, which also includes the Blue Economy as a sub-sector, approved at the 19th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in March 2023.

A major milestone in this sector was the signing of the Framework Agreement on the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area (FTA) on 8 February 2004 in Phuket, which entered into force on 30 June 2004. The Agreement aims to:

  • progressive eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers in goods
  • liberalize trade in services
  • establish a transparent and competitive investment regime
  • strengthen trade facilitation, including customs cooperation and mutual recognition
  • promote closer economic integration and bridge development gaps, especially for least developed Member States

The sector operates through a structured institutional framework comprising the Trade and Economic Ministerial Meeting (TEMM), Senior Trade and Economic Officials" Meeting (STEOM), Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) and its seven Working Groups, the BIMSTEC Economic Forum (BEF) and the BIMSTEC Business Forum (BBF). Both forums were established in 1998, while a proposal to establish a BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BIMSTEC CCI) is under consideration.

Negotiations are on-going to conclude following agreements under the Framework Agreement on the BIMSTEC FTA:

  1. Agreement on Trade in Goods: Texts finalized and annexes on Rules of Origin and Certification Procedures are under negotiation. The 22nd Working Group Meeting on Rules of Origin was held virtually in Dhaka on 25 March 2025.
  2. Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Cooperation: The Agreement is under negotiation with significant progress. The 3rd Working Group Meeting on Customs Cooperation was held in Dhaka on 02 December 2025 virtually.
  3. Agreement on Dispute Settlement Procedures and Mechanism: Draft finalized.
  4. Agreement on Trade in Services: Eight rounds of negotiations completed with the last meeting held in Dhaka on 18-19 November 2018.
  5. Agreement on Investment: The last (8th) meeting of the Working Group on Investment was convened on 18-19 November 2018.
  6. Agreement on Trade Facilitation: Three rounds of negotiation completed with notable progress. The 3rd Meeting of the Working Group on Trade Facilitation was held virtually on 10 March 2025 in Dhaka.

In addition, a Fiscal and Monetary Policy Expert Group was approved in April 2025 to develop a regional Plan of Action. Likewise, a Concept Note to form Expert Group on Women Development is under consideration of the Member States.

1.1 Blue Economy: The sub-sector was established in 2023. The First Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Blue Economy is yet to convene which shall discuss on the Draft Plan of Action on Blue Economy.

  1. Environment and Climate Change: Environment and Climate Change is a priority cooperation sector under BIMSTEC, reflecting the growing urgency of climate-related challenges in the Bay of Bengal region. Bhutan is the Lead Country of this sector. Mountain Economy is a sub-sector under it.

The institutional mechanism under the sector includes Joint Working Group on Environment and Climate Change (JWG-ECC), which in absence of sectoral senior official and ministerial mechanisms, report to the mechanisms of Senior Officials and Ministers. It has met four times so far with 1st Meeting in December 2022; 2nd in October 2023; 3rd in November 2024 and the 4th Meeting held in January 2026. The BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Environment and Climate Change and its Action Matrix were adopted in April 2025 which provide the strategic framework for cooperation. It focuses on three priority areas, namely, biodiversity conservation; waste management; and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

    1. Mountain Economy: Recognizing the critical role of mountains in sustainable development, BIMSTEC has progressively strengthened regional cooperation on mountain-related issues since 2016, when the BIMSTEC Leaders" Retreat in Goa called for greater efforts to conserve mountain ecosystems. This commitment was further advanced at the Fourth BIMSTEC Summit held in 2018 in Kathmandu, which endorsed Nepal"s Concept Note on Promoting Mountain Economies and decided to establish an Intergovernmental Expert Group. The 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in April 2021 accelerated this process by agreeing to expedite the Group"s establishment, while subsequent decisions at the Fifth BIMSTEC Summit in 2022 and the Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok in 2023 formally integrated Mountain Economy into BIMSTEC"s cooperation framework as a cross-cutting issue and a sub-sector under the Environment and Climate Change Sector. So far, two meetings have been held with 1st Meeting of Inter-governmental Expert Group on Mountain Economy (IGE-ME) in April 2024 and 2nd Meeting in April 2026, which reviewed the progress in implementation of BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Mountain Economy and prioritized activities to be conducted during 2026-2027.

  1. Security Sector:

Security has emerged as one of the most significant pillars of cooperation within BIMSTEC, reflecting the shared recognition among Member States that peace, stability, and sustainable development are closely linked to regional security. The BIMSTEC region faces a wide range of traditional and non-traditional security challenges, including terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organized crime, illicit trafficking of drugs and persons, money laundering, cyber threats, maritime security concerns, natural disasters, and climate-related risks. In response to these evolving challenges, BIMSTEC Member States have consistently demonstrated their commitment to strengthening regional cooperation through institutionalized dialogue, information sharing, capacity building, and coordinated action.

India serves as the Lead Country for the BIMSTEC Security Sector, which comprises three sub-sectors: (i) Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC), (ii) Disaster Management, and (iii) Energy. Over the years, BIMSTEC has developed a comprehensive architecture of ministerial, official, and expert-level mechanisms to address these issues and enhance collective security across the Bay of Bengal region.

3.1 Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) has become the principal mechanism for advancing cooperation in this sector. Since its first meeting in New Delhi in December 2004, it has overseen a network of specialized sub-groups which provide platforms for policy coordination, exchange of best practices, intelligence cooperation, and the development of common legal and operational frameworks. These include:

    1. Sub-Group on Anti- Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (SG-AML/CFT) with the Lead Shepherd as Thailand. The latest meeting (13th) was held on 01 March 2025 in Cox"s Bazar, Bangladesh.
    2. Sub-Group on Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursor Chemicals (SG-NDPSPC) with Myanmar as the Lead Shepherd. So far, nine meetings concluded with the last meeting held on 22-23 October 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
    3. Sub-Group on Legal and Law Enforcement Issues (SG-LLEI) having India as the Lead Shepherd. The latest (9th) meeting was held on 21-22 June 2023 in New Delhi, India.
    4. Sub-Group on Intelligence Sharing (SG-IS) with Lead Shepherd Sri Lanka.
    5. Sub-Group on the Cooperation on Countering Radicalization and Terrorism (SG-CCRT) is led by India as the Lead Shepherd. The latest (3rd) meeting was held virtually on 19 November 2025 in New Delhi, India.
    6. Sub-Group on Human Trafficking (SG-HT) has Bangladesh as the Lead Shepherd. So far, three meetings on BIMSTEC Sub-Group on Human Trafficking have been held, with the last one on 6-7 April 2025 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

One of the major achievements under the CTTC framework has been the development of regional legal instruments. The BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking, signed in 2009 and entering into force in 2021, established a framework for cooperation among Member States and their law enforcement agencies. Subsequently, the BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters was signed during the Fifth BIMSTEC Summit in 2022, enhancing judicial cooperation among Member States. BIMSTEC is also working towards finalizing additional legal instruments, including conventions on trafficking in persons, transfer of sentenced persons, and extradition.

The sub-groups under JWG-CTTC have undertaken a range of initiatives to strengthen regional cooperation. Efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing have included the preparation of studies and action plans on illicit financial flows. Cooperation on drug control has focused on information sharing, intelligence exchange, publication of BIMSTEC Annual Drug Reports, and development of a regional Plan of Action on Drug Control. Member States have also worked to strengthen cooperation against human trafficking and counter radicalization through dedicated sub-groups and action-oriented frameworks.

Recognizing terrorism as a major threat to regional peace and stability, BIMSTEC Leaders at their Retreat in Goa, India, on 16 October 2016 adopted a comprehensive agenda to enhance security cooperation. The Leaders emphasized the need for urgent measures to counter terrorism, violent extremism, and radicalization, and agreed to strengthen cooperation among law enforcement, intelligence and security organizations. As a result, the BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs" Meeting (BNSCM) was established as an annual platform for strategic dialogue and coordination. So far, four meetings of BNSCM were held between 2017 and 2024, mainly focused on common vulnerabilities related to terrorism, narcotics trafficking, arms smuggling, cyber threats, maritime security challenges, and climate-induced risks. The National Security Chiefs" process also gave rise to several specialized mechanisms aimed at addressing emerging security challenges. These include:

  1. Expert Group on Maritime Security Cooperation: So far, four meetings have been held with the latest one on 25 November 2026 in New Delhi, India.
  2. Expert Group on Cyber Security Cooperation: The last meeting (2nd) was held in New Delhi on 21 January 2025.
  3. Expert Group on Space Security Cooperation: The first meeting of this Group is yet to convene.
  4. Expert Group on Himalayan Science Council: The latest 2nd Meeting was held virtually on 26 July 2023 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  5. Track 1.5 BIMSTEC Security Dialogue Forum: The last (4th) meeting was held on 06-07 May 2025 in New Delhi, India.
  6. Think Tanks Dialogue on Regional Security: The last (2nd) meeting was held at the Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi, India on 27-28 November 2019

The Expert Group on Maritime Security Cooperation has promoted collaboration in areas such as maritime domain awareness, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), oil pollution response, blue economy, and maritime law enforcement. Similarly, the Expert Group on Cyber Security Cooperation is working toward the establishment of a BIMSTEC cyber cooperation framework, including CERT-to-CERT collaboration and a regional cybercrime cooperation mechanism. The Expert Group on Space Security Cooperation seeks to harness emerging space technologies for addressing security challenges, including remote sensing, data sharing, and capacity building. Meanwhile, the Himalayan Science Council initiative recognizes the interdependence of Himalayan and Bay of Bengal ecosystems and aims to promote scientific cooperation to address environmental degradation and its implications for human security. BIMSTEC has also encouraged policy dialogue and knowledge exchange through the Think Tanks Dialogue on Regional Security and the Track 1.5 Security Dialogue Forum. These platforms bring together policymakers, experts, and academics to discuss non-traditional security challenges and generate policy recommendations that can inform regional cooperation initiatives.

Another important institutional development has been the decision to establish BIMSTEC Home Ministers" Meetings, supported by Senior Officials" Meetings of Home Ministries. Mandated by the Fourth BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu in 2018, this mechanism is expected to further strengthen cooperation and coordination among law enforcement, intelligence, and security agencies of Member States and complement the work of the National Security Chiefs" Meetings.

3.2 Disaster Management has emerged as a major component of BIMSTEC"s security cooperation. The region is among the most disaster-prone in the world, facing frequent earthquakes, floods, cyclones, landslides, and other natural hazards. Initially included as a priority area of cooperation in 2005, Disaster Management became a dedicated sub-sector under the Security Sector following the rationalization of BIMSTEC sectors adopted at the Fifth BIMSTEC Summit in 2022.

Cooperation in disaster management is undertaken through the Expert Group on Disaster Management Cooperation, the BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate (BCWC), and regular disaster management exercises. The Fourth BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu in 2018 decided to establish an intergovernmental expert group to develop a regional Plan of Action aimed at improving preparedness and coordination in responding to natural disasters in the Bay of Bengal region. The Expert Group on Disaster Management Cooperation has since worked to advance this objective and develop a comprehensive regional framework for disaster response. The last (2nd) meeting of Expert Group was held virtually in New Delhi, India on 07 November 2025.

The BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate, headquartered in India, represents another important institutional mechanism supporting disaster risk reduction and climate-related cooperation. Established through a Memorandum of Association signed during the Third BIMSTEC Summit in 2014, the Centre promotes collaboration in weather forecasting, climate monitoring, remote sensing, and information sharing to strengthen regional resilience. So far, five meetings have been convened to date, with latest meeting (5th) on 22-23 April, 2026 in Thimphu, Bhutan.

3.3 Energy sub-sector constitutes the third pillar of the Security Sector and is supported through institutional mechanisms such as the BIMSTEC Energy Ministers" Meeting, the Expert Group on Energy Cooperation, and the Governing Board of the BIMSTEC Energy Centre. Cooperation in this area seeks to enhance regional energy security, promote connectivity, facilitate cross-border energy trade, and encourage sustainable energy development among Member States. The last BIMSTEC Energy Minister"s Meeting was held virtually on 20 April 2022, in Kathmandu, Nepal. Likewise, the 1st Meeting of the Expert Group on Energy Cooperation was held in March 2019, which finalized the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection Coordination Committee (BGICC).

The BIMSTEC Energy Centre was established to promote cooperation, experience sharing, and best practices in the energy sector among Member States. The first Governing Board Meeting of the Centre was held on 27 February 2023 in Bengaluru, India, where it was decided that the Centre would be hosted at the Central Power Research Institute in Bengaluru. During the meeting, the draft Host Country Agreement between the Government of India and the BIMSTEC Secretariat was also finalized. The Centre additionally serves as the Secretariat of the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection Coordination Committee, thereby supporting regional energy connectivity efforts. Its core objectives include coordinating energy cooperation, strengthening capacity building, and developing regional energy databases and roadmaps for collaboration. It also promotes policy exchange, feasibility studies, renewable energy development, energy trade, investment, and human resource development across BIMSTEC Member States.

  1. Agriculture and Food Security Sector

Agriculture and Food Security is one of BIMSTEC"s core sectors of cooperation, reflecting the sector"s critical importance to the socio-economic well-being of the region"s nearly 1.8 billion people, which account for around 22 percent of the global population. Agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood for a large proportion of the population in BIMSTEC Member States and plays a vital role in ensuring food security, nutrition, employment, and sustainable development. Myanmar serves as the Lead Country for the Agriculture and Food Security Sector, which comprises two sub-sectors: (i) Agriculture and (ii) Fisheries & Livestock.

4.1 Agriculture: Cooperation in Agriculture has evolved through a structured institutional framework comprising the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Agricultural Cooperation (EGMAC), Senior Officials" Meetings on Agriculture (SOM-A), and BIMSTEC Agriculture Ministers" Meetings (BAMM). The Expert Group has held nine meetings since its establishment in 2007 and has played a central role in shaping regional agricultural cooperation. The Eleventh meeting was held on 28-30 March 2025 in Phuket, Thailand and the twelfth meeting is scheduled to be held on 20-21 January 2027 in Bangladesh.

The Plan of Action (2023-2027) serves as the principal framework for agricultural cooperation within BIMSTEC. It identifies 17 actions across five priority areas aimed at enhancing food security, food safety, nutrition, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods.

4.2 Fisheries and Livestock sub-sector has a long history within BIMSTEC, with fisheries being one of the earliest priority sectors of cooperation since 1998. Following the reorganization of BIMSTEC sectors, Fisheries and Livestock was integrated under the Agriculture and Food Security Sector as a dedicated sub-sector. To enhance cooperation in this area, the Seventeenth BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in 2021 established an Expert Group on Fisheries and Livestock. The sub-sector is now overseen through the same ministerial and senior officials" mechanisms governing agricultural cooperation. The Second Meeting of Expert Group on Fisheries and Livestock was held on 8-9 December in virtual mode in Kathmandu.

Over the years, BIMSTEC Member States have implemented numerous fisheries-related projects and training programmes, particularly under Thailand"s leadership. These initiatives have covered sustainable fisheries management, ecosystem-based fisheries management, inland aquaculture, ornamental aquatic plant propagation, tissue culture technologies, and small-scale aquaculture development. Building on these achievements, Member States are currently developing a comprehensive Plan of Action on Fisheries and Livestock Cooperation to guide future regional collaboration, promote sustainable resource management, improve productivity, and support livelihoods dependent on fisheries and livestock.

A significant recent development in this sector has been the partnership between BIMSTEC and International Food Policy Research Institute through a MoU signed in March 2023. The collaboration supports evidence-based policymaking, research, capacity building, and knowledge sharing in agriculture and food security. Since then, both organizations have jointly conducted training programmes, climate and environment workshops, and a regional conference on climate-inclusive agricultural transformation.

  1. People-to-People Contact Sector

The People-to-People Contact Sector is an important area of BIMSTEC cooperation comprising sub-sectors of tourism, culture, poverty alleviation and people-to-people contact forums. Nepal is the current lead country of the sector.

5.1 Tourism was one of BIMSTEC"s original six areas of cooperation, identified at the Second BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting (1998) in Dhaka recognizing the region"s rich natural, cultural, and historical assets and importance of promoting tourism through joint marketing, exchange of information, and sub-regional cooperation. The major mechanism under tourism cooperation include:

  1. BIMSTEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting, held in 2005 in Kolkata, India, and in 2006 in Kathmandu, Nepal.
  2. BIMSTEC Senior Officials" Meeting on Tourism, usually held preceding the Ministerial Meeting.
  3. Joint Working Group on Tourism to oversee implementation, funding priorities, and project development. The last (3rd) Meeting was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 18 March 2025.
  4. BIMSTEC Network of Tour Operators acts as the private sector body providing ideas and inputs for tourism cooperation and supporting the implementation. The Third Meeting of the BIMSTEC Network of Tour Operators was held in Kathmandu in February, 2025.
    1. Culture emerged as a BIMSTEC cooperation area at the First BIMSTEC Summit in 2004 recognizing the pluralistic nature of societies, shared cultural heritage and rich diversity of languages, arts, crafts, and traditions, culture. Major mechanisms under culture include
  1. BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Culture: Two meetings held so far in 2005 in Dhaka and in 2006 in Paro. The Paro Meeting adopted Paro Initiative proposing to establish BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission (BCIC) and the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory (BCIO) in Bhutan. A Memorandum of Understanding establishing the BCIC and BCIO was signed during Third BIMSTEC Summit in 2014.
  2. BIMSTEC Senior Officials" Meeting on Culture, which were convened prior to BIMSTEC Ministerial Meetings on Culture.
  3. Expert Group Meetings on Culture were held for three times so far. The last meeting was held virtually in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 24 April 2025. Which finalized the draft Plan of Action on Culture.

5.3 Poverty Alleviation was recognized as a BIMSTEC priority since the First Summit. The cooperation mechanisms include:

  1. BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Alleviation: The Meeting held preciously in 2005 (Dhaka), 2012 (Kathmandu) and 2017 (Colombo). A BIMSTEC Poverty Plan of Action (PPA) was developed.
  2. BIMSTEC Senior Officials" Meeting on Poverty Alleviation
  3. Expert Group Meeting on Poverty Alleviation: The First Meeting of the Expert Group held in Kathmandu in 2017. It recommended integrating the PPA into national planning processes and holding annual reviews. The Fourth meeting was held on 09-10 October 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
    1. People-to-People Contact Forums: At the First BIMSTEC Summit (2004), Leaders emphasized exchanges among parliamentarians, students, academics, media professionals, artists, and sports personalities. These initiatives were intended to strengthen regional understanding and social connectivity. P2P Contact Forums presently include:

  1. BIMSTEC Network of Policy Think Tanks (BNPTT): The network"s purpose is to provide policy recommendations, encourage dialogue, organize workshops and exchanges, and raise awareness about BIMSTEC. Seven meetings of BNPTT have been held so far, with Nepal organizing the last meeting in Kathmandu in 2025.
  2. Expert Group on Visa Facilitation: Expert Group Meetings held in 2006, 2007, and 2007 gradually shifted the focus from a Business Travel Card to a BIMSTEC Business Visa Scheme and broader Visa Facilitation Measures, including visa exemptions for officials participating in BIMSTEC activities. Till date 5 meetings have been held with Nepal organizing the 4th Meeting in Kathmandu on 20-21 November 2024. The 5th meeting was held in Colombo on 18-19 November, 2025.
  1. Science, Technology and Innovation Sector

Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) is one of the newest areas of BIMSTEC cooperation, established during the 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in April 2021. Sri Lanka was designated as the lead country for the STI Sector. The STI Sector comprises three sub-sectors namely, Technology; Health; and Human Resource Development (HRD). To support cooperation in these areas, BIMSTEC established three institutional mechanisms.

  1. Expert Group on Science, Technology, and Innovation Cooperation (EGSTI)
  2. Expert Group on Public Health (EGPH)
  3. Expert Group on Human Resource Development (EGHRD)
    1. Technology cooperation is the most significant initiative of BIMSTEC. During the 5th BIMSTEC Summit (2022), the Memorandum of Association (MoA) establishing the Technology Transfer Facility (TTF) was signed. The Facility is intended to serve as the primary mechanism for promoting technology transfer, innovation, scientific collaboration, and knowledge-sharing among BIMSTEC countries. So far, EGSTI has met for three times, with the latest meeting held on 11-12 September 2025, which reviewed the draft BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation.

6.2 Health has become one of the most active components of the STI Sector, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. Health cooperation under BIMSTEC before restructuring in 2021 was limited largely to traditional medicine through the BIMSTEC Task Force on Traditional Medicine (BTFTM). The Task Force adopted a Plan of Action for Development of Traditional Medicine during its Third Meeting in Kathmandu in 2020. The BTFTM has held seven meetings to date with the last meeting took place from 26-27 November 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Following the recognition of health as a formal BIMSTEC sub-sector at the 5th Summit (2022), the First Meeting of the Expert Group on Public Health (EGPH) was convened in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in July 2023. A major outcome of the meeting was the finalization of the BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Public Health that focuses on strengthening regional cooperation in public health, pandemic prevention, disease surveillance, emergency response, health system resilience, research, and capacity building. The decision to establish the BIMSTEC Health Ministers" mechanism was made during the 5th BIMSTEC Summit in 2025. Sri Lanka has committed to convening its first meeting soon.

6.3 Human Resource Development (HRD) is the newest area of cooperation expected to promote cooperation in education, vocational training, skill development, knowledge-sharing, institutional exchanges, and human capital development across the BIMSTEC region. Recognizing the importance of skills, education, training, and capacity building for regional development, BIMSTEC established the Expert Group on Human Resource Development (EGHRD). A regional Plan of Action on Human Resource Development has been prepared. So far, two meetings of EGHRD have been held; with first meeting in August 2024 and second meeting in July 2025. The third meeting is scheduled to be held on 18-19 August 2026, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

7. Connectivity Sector

Connectivity Sector formerly known as the Transport and Communication Sector, has been one of the seven core areas of BIMSTEC cooperation since the organization"s establishment in 1997. Connectivity is recognized as a fundamental requirement for regional integration, economic growth, and social development among BIMSTEC member states. Improved transport and communication links facilitate trade, investment, tourism, cultural exchange, and people-to-people contacts, while also supporting the effective implementation of regional economic initiatives such as a free trade area. Thailand serves as the lead country for this sector.

The sector operates primarily through the BIMSTEC Transport Connectivity Working Group (BTCWG), which is responsible for coordinating and monitoring connectivity-related initiatives. The last meeting of the BTCWG was convened virtually on 20 March 2023, in Bangkok, Thailand. In addition, two specialized working groups have been established to negotiate key regional transport agreements:

  1. BIMSTEC Working Group on Maritime Transport Cooperation: Earlier established as the Working Group on Coastal Shipping Agreement (WG-CSA), it was later renamed as BIMSTEC Working Group on Maritime Transport Cooperation as India proposed to broaden the scope of the Group. It finalized and recommended the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation which was signed during the 5th BIMSTEC Summit.

  1. BIMSTEC Working Group on Motor Vehicles Agreement (WG-MVA): It is tasked with negotiating the Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) to regulate passenger, personal, and cargo vehicular traffic among BIMSTEC member states.

A major milestone in the sector was the development of the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity, prepared with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Master Plan provides a comprehensive 10-year strategy (2018-2028) for improving regional connectivity and serves as the principal roadmap for transport cooperation.

Regional Centres

Following two regional centres have been established under BIMSTEC:

      1. BIMSTEC Energy Centre in India (https://bimstec.org/bimstec-energy-centre)
      2. BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate in India (https://bimstec.org/bimstec-centre-for-weather-and-climate)

Necessary preparations are underway to bring following two BIMSTEC Centres/Entities into operation:

  1. BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory in Bhutan
  2. BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Sri Lanka.

Similarly, the negotiations are ongoing to the establishment eight other Centres of Excellence under various thematic areas.

Convention/MoUs/Agreements Concluded

Followings are a list of Convention, MoUs and Agreements concluded so far:

  1. Bangkok Declaration, 1997
  2. Framework Agreement on the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area, 2004
  3. Protocol to the Framework Agreement on BIMSTEC free Trade Area, 2004
  4. BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking, 2009
  5. Memorandum of Association (MoA) among the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Member Countries for Establishment of BIMSTEC Energy Centre, 2011
  6. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Establishment of the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission (BCIC) and BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory (BCIO), 2014
  7. Memorandum of Association (MoA) on the Establishment of the BIMSTEC Permanent Secretariat, 2014
  8. Memorandum of Association (MoA) among the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Member Countries Concerning Establishment of a BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate, 2014
  9. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Establishment of the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection, 2018
  10. The Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Cooperation between Diplomatic Academies/ Training Institutions of BIMSTEC Member States, 2022
  11. The BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, 2022
  12. BIMSTEC Charter, 2022 (entry into force on 20 May 2024)
  13. Memorandum of Association on the Establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility, 2022
  14. BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity, 2022
  15. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BIMSTEC Secretariat and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), 2023
  16. Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation (AMTC), 2025
  17. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the BIMSTEC Secretariat and UNODC, 2025
  18. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the BIMSTEC Secretariat and the Indian Ocean Rim Organization (IORA), 2025