Kathmandu: On the occasion of the 29th Anniversary of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Prime Minister Balendra Shah and Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal extended messages conveying warm felicitations and best wishes to the Governments and peoples of all BIMSTEC Member States.
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization that was established on 06 June 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration. June 6 is marked as BIMSTEC Day. Initially known as BIST-EC (Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation), the organisation today is known as BIMSTEC and comprises seven Member States—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
In his message, Prime Minister highlighted BIMSTEC as a dynamic platform for regional cooperation that reflects the region’s diversity, vitality and shared potential. He underscored the importance of enhancing connectivity in transport, trade and digital networks to foster deeper integration of economies. Emphasizing that BIMSTEC’s enduring strength lies in its people, he called for greater efforts to promote tourism, create opportunities for youth and entrepreneurs, and build resilience against climate change and natural disasters. Prime Minister Shah reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to working closely with Member States to build a connected, resilient and prosperous BIMSTEC region.
Likewise, Foreign Minister Khanal commended the steady progress made by BIMSTEC since its establishment in 1997 and highlighted the significance of the BIMSTEC Charter in strengthening regional cooperation. He emphasized the need to consolidate achievements, strengthen partnerships, and enhance implementation efficiency. Reaffirming commitment to BIMSTEC, the Foreign Minister shared Nepal’s readiness, as the Lead Country for the People-to-People Contact sector, to promote tourism, cultural exchanges and deeper people-to-people ties across the region.
Nepal has been the BIMSTEC member state since February, 2004.
