BIMSTEC Summit 2025

Syllabus GS2/IR

Context

• PM Modi attended the 6th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit, hosted by Thailand, which is the current chair.

About

• Theme: “BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient, and Open”
• Focus on shared growth amid global uncertainties.
• The BIMSTEC Summit is the first in-person meeting in seven years.
• The chairmanship of the regional grouping was handed over to Bangladesh.

India-led Initiatives:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed a 21-point action plan.
• Mitigation and Disaster Management: 
  • Establishing the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence for Disaster Management in India to cooperate in disaster management, relief and rehabilitation.
  • Fourth joint exercises between BIMSTEC Disaster Management Authorities to be held in India this year.
• BODHI Program for skilling youth: BODHI [BIMSTEC for Organized Development of Human Resource Infrastructure] under which training and scholarships would be provided to professionals, students, researchers, diplomats and others.
  • 300 youths from BIMSTEC countries in India every year.
• To Strengthen people-to-people linkages: India to host BIMSTEC Athletics Meet (this year).
  • First BIMSTEC Games in 2027
  • BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival.
• Youth-focused initiatives: Young Leaders’ Summit, Hackathon, Young Professional Visitors program.
  • Pilot study on Digital Public Infrastructure, cancer care capacity building.
  • Proposal for BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce and Business Summit.
• Proposed establishing connectivity between India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and the payment systems of BIMSTEC member states.
  • Such integration would bring substantial benefits across trade, industry and tourism, enhancing economic activity at all levels.
• Space Sector: Build nano-satellites for the BIMSTEC member nations and also explore the setting up of ground stations and promote the use of remote sensing data.
• Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre: Proposed the establishment of a Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre in India to enhance coordination in capacity building, research, innovation and maritime policies.

Summit Outcomes:

• BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030: It’s the first long-term plan to make BIMSTEC more prosperous, strong, and open by the year 2030.
  • The vision focuses on improving trade, transport links, and people’s safety and well-being
• Rules of Procedure for BIMSTEC: This sets clear rules for how BIMSTEC will work, helping the group to function more smoothly and efficiently.
• Report by the BIMSTEC Eminent Persons’ Group: This report gives helpful suggestions for how BIMSTEC should move forward, in line with the 2030 vision.
• Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation: A new agreement was signed to improve sea transport between South and Southeast Asia.
  • This will help reduce shipping costs, make trade faster, and make it easier for goods and people to move across the region

About BIMSTEC

• It is a regional cooperation organization formed in 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.
  • It unites South and Southeast Asian nations bordering the Bay of Bengal.
• Founding Members (1997): Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand.
• Current Members: It comprises seven member states, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
• Objective: To help countries in their economic growth, to support social development, and to encourage development in other areas, like science, technology and economic development.

Source: MEA