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BIMSTEC

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, or BIMSTEC, groups together Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The seven-country forum aims to achieve its own free trade area by 2017.

last update: May 2012
Photo: Palácio do Planalto/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Thailand proposes creation of BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement
7-Apr-2025 Vietnam+
Thailand has proposed the creation of a BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement to enhance intra-regional trade, and strengthen the economies of countries in the regional group.
‘BIMSTEC among least integrated trade regions’: Bhutan calls for early conclusion of FTA
4-Apr-2025 The Print
Bhutan’s foreign minister highlighted the urgent need for an FTA at the 3rd BIMSTEC Dialogue in Bangkok, hours before Trump announced new US tariffs.
Dhaka urges BIMSTEC members to finalise trade agreements
3-Apr-2025 Risingbd
Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin urged all the BIMSTEC member states to extend their full cooperation to ensure timely finalization of six fundamental agreements on trade.
BIMSTEC Summit likely to adopt FTA and clinch maritime transport pact
24-Mar-2025 The Economic Times
The upcoming Bimstec summit in Bangkok, held from April 2-4, aims to establish a maritime transport agreement to enhance trade between India, Myanmar, and Thailand. The summit will also focus on finalizing the long-pending free trade agreement to boost intra-regional trade.
Dhaka calls for early implementation of the BIMSTEC FTA
20-Dec-2024 The Business Standard
Dhaka has called upon the BIMSTEC to expedite the process for finalizing the necessary instruments for early implementation of the Free Trade Agreement among the member states.
India urges regional bloc that includes Bangladesh to fast-track trade talks
7-Aug-2024 Live Mint
India’s commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal suggested that the seven-nation group work on a preferential trade agreement before eventually signing a free trade agreement.
BIMSTEC nears completion of Free Trade Agreement, says secretary general
27-Mar-2023 The Economic Times
Free Trade Agreement among the BIMSTEC countries is at the final stage of formulation, the secretary general Tenzin Lekphell said.
BIMSTEC leaders pledge to make a ‘peaceful, prosperous’ Bay region
22-Jun-2019 BDNews24.com
Leaders of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation or BIMSTEC have promised to make a “peaceful and prosperous” Bay of Bengal region on the 22 years of inception of this grouping of seven countries.
SAARC has problems, BIMSTEC full of energy, says Jaishankar
9-Jun-2019 Economic Times
Newly appointed external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday rued the fact that South Asia is among the least inter-connected regions in the world, but efforts are being made to make the region more integrated. Referring to BIMSTEC, which connects South Asia with Southeast Asia, Jaishankar said that India has strong synergy with other BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) states.
India’s focus shift from SAARC to BIMSTEC is strategic, but underused
5-Jun-2019 The Wire
While India has tactfully used the platform to diplomatically isolate Pakistan, it must also tap into BIMSTEC’s immense potential for development, connectivity and trade in the region.

    Links

  • BIMSTEC
    Bangladesh-India-Myanmar-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation (also includes Nepal and Bhutan)