6th BIMSTEC Summit 2025

Context: The 6^th BIMSTEC Summit was held in Bangkok, Thailand in April 2025. BIMSTEC serves as a vital bridge between South and Southeast Asia, and is emerging as a powerful platform for advancing regional connectivity, cooperation and shared prosperity. 

About BIMSTEC

• Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organisation comprising seven member states around the Bay of Bengal region. 
• BIMSTEC constitutes a unique link between South and South-East Asia, with:
  • five members from South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka) 
  • two from South-East Asia (Myanmar and Thailand).
• The organisation came into being in 1997 through the 'Bangkok Declaration'.
• Permanent Secretariat: Dhaka (operational since 2014)
• BIMSTEC Summit Meetings are held once every two years, preceded by the Ministerial Meeting, and hosted by the Member State holding the BIMSTEC Chairmanship.
• All decisions of the Summit Meetings are made on the basis of consensus.

Evolution of BIMSTEC

• 1997: The economic bloc was formed with four members with the acronym 'BIST-EC' (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation). 
• 1997: Later, in the same year, following inclusion of Myanmar, the group was renamed 'BIMST-EC' (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation). 
• 2004: With the admission of Nepal and Bhutan, the group was renamed to 'Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation' (BIMSTEC).

BIMSTEC Charter

• The BIMSTEC Charter, which lays the institutional and legal foundation of the grouping, officially came into force in 2023.
• This formalises BIMSTEC as a regional organisation with a defined structure and working mechanism. It provides a clear framework for cooperation among its member states. 

Salient features of the BIMSTEC Charter include

• Legal Personality: The Charter grants BIMSTEC legal status as an international organisation. This enables it to engage formally with other entities, enter agreements, admit new members or observers, and expand its influence globally.
• Objectives: BIMSTEC’s core goals:
  • To promote economic growth and social progress in the region.
  • To enhance collaboration across diverse sectors such as trade, technology, energy, connectivity, and security.
  • To address common challenges like poverty eradication, climate change, terrorism, and organised crime.
• Guiding principles: BIMSTEC operates based on universally accepted principles:
  • Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
  • Non-interference in internal affairs of member states.
  • Peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit in all cooperative efforts.
• Institutional Structure: The Charter establishes a hierarchical structure for decision-making:
  • Summit Meetings: Heads of State or Government meet periodically to set strategic direction.
  • Ministerial Meetings: Ministers oversee specific areas of cooperation.
  • Senior Officials’ Meetings: High-ranking officials implement decisions and monitor progress.
• Sectoral Division: To streamline cooperation, BIMSTEC divides its focus into six priority sectors (trade & investment, energy, technology etc.). Each sector is led by a designated member state to ensure effective coordination.
• Dispute Resolution Mechanism: A provision is included for resolving disputes amicably among member states to ensure smooth functioning of the organisation.

Key updates from the 6^th BIMSTEC Summit (2025) held in Bangkok:

1. Institutional and Strategic Developments:

• Adoption of the Bangkok Vision 2030: The Vision aims to build a prosperous, secure, and inclusive Bay of Bengal region. Reflects shared goals for deeper regional integration, sustainable development, and economic prosperity.
• Emphasis on Collective Progress: PM Modi reiterated the motto of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas" to underline India’s commitment to inclusive development and regional cooperation.

2. Security and Institutional Cooperation: 

• Institutionalisation of Home Ministers' Mechanism: BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ meeting is being institutionalised as a permanent mechanism. Areas of cooperation include:
  • Counter-terrorism
  • Cybersecurity
  • Combating drug and human trafficking. 

3. Connectivity: Physical, Digital, and Energy: 

• Physical and Energy Connectivity: PM Modi stressed that physical infrastructure must be complemented with digital and energy linkages. He called for accelerating efforts towards electric grid interconnection across BIMSTEC countries.
• Digital Connectivity: Proposed integration of India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the digital payment systems of other BIMSTEC member states.

4. Economic and Trade Cooperation:

• BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce: Proposal to establish a regional chamber of commerce to foster business-to-business ties.
• Annual BIMSTEC Business Summit India suggested the institution of a yearly summit to bring together regional business leaders and policymakers.
• Local Currency Trade: India proposed a feasibility study on the possibility of conducting trade within the BIMSTEC region using local currencies to reduce dependency on external currencies.

5. Connectivity: 

• Establishment of Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre in India to work to enhance coordination in capacity building, research, innovation and maritime policies.

6. Disaster Preparedness and Management:

• Establishing the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence for Disaster Management in India to cooperate in disaster management, relief and rehabilitation.
• BIMSTEC Joint Disaster Management Exercise: The 4th joint exercise of BIMSTEC Disaster Management Authorities will be held in India later in 2025.

7. Space:

• India proposed initiatives- setting up ground stations for manpower training for BIMSTEC countries, manufacturing and launch of Nano Satellites, and use of remote sensing data.

8. Agriculture: 

• Centre of Excellence in Agriculture which aim is to enhance: Best practice exchange, Research collaboration and capacity building among farmers in the region

9. Education, Skilling, and Youth Exchange: 

• BODHI Initiative (BIMSTEC for Organised Development of Human Resource Infrastructure): Under this initiative, 300 youth from BIMSTEC countries will be trained in India annually.
• Scholarships to be provided at Forest Research Institute and Nalanda University. 
• An annual training programme for young diplomats from BIMSTEC countries will be organised.