Daily Archives: 14 May 2025

On 4 April 2025, H.E. Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, chaired the 6ᵗʰ BIMSTEC Summit. This provided an important platform for discussions aimed at enhancing regional cooperation and maximising BIMSTEC’s potential as a unique framework connecting South and Southeast Asia.

The successfully concluded 6ᵗʰ BIMSTEC Summit and Related Meetings marked the completion of Thailand’s chairmanship of BIMSTEC. The leaders of the seven BIMSTEC Member States adopted key outcome documents, notably the 6ᵗʰ BIMSTEC Summit Declaration and the “BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030,” which sets a strategic framework for a “Prosperous, Resilient, and Open BIMSTEC” or PRO BIMSTEC by 2030. The Summit achieved a number of tangible results in the main areas that are aligned with Thailand’s priorities:

(1) A Prosperous BIMSTEC: This includes the signing of the Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation, which will reduce shipping costs and improve supply chain efficiency, enabling Thai products to be more competitive and expanding new opportunities, particularly in South Asia.

(2) A Resilient BIMSTEC: This will support cooperation on non-traditional security issues such as transnational crimes. The leaders also adopted the “BIMSTEC Leaders’ Joint Statement on the Impact of the Earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand on 28 March 2025,” proposed by Thailand, reaffirming the collaboration in disaster management.

(3) An Open BIMSTEC: This focuses on promoting the role of the private sector and enhancing people-to-people contact. On 3 April 2025, Thailand also organised the BIMSTEC Young Gen Forum, to further empower the next generation of young entrepreneurs from across the region.

At the conclusion of the Summit, Thailand handed over the BIMSTEC Chairmanship to Bangladesh to continue advancing the organisation’s goals and work towards realising the objectives outlined in the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030.

Afterwards, the Prime Minister gave a Press Conference on the outcomes of the 6ᵗʰ BIMSTEC Summit.

On 24 January 2025, Mr. Paisan Rupanichkij, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, had a discussion with Mr. Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) during his visit to Thailand.

Both sides discussed prepations for the 6th BIMSTEC Summit and related meetings, during 2 – 4 April 2025 in Bangkok, as well as key deliverables for the upcoming Summit, including the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030, the Report of the Eminent Persons’ Group on the Future Direction of BIMSTEC and the BIMSTEC Summit Declaration. On this occasion, the Deputy Permanent Secretary underscored the importance of finalising the BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is expected to significantly enhance intra-regional trade among member countries. He also highlighted Thailand’s commitment to advancing regional connectivity, noting Thailand’s lead role in this area. BIMSTEC serves as a vital bridge linking South Asia and Southeast Asia, fostering closer economic, social and cultural ties across the region.

On 3 April 2025, the second day of the 6ᵗʰ BIMSTEC Summit and Related Meetings being held in Bangkok, in the morning, H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, chaired the 20ᵗʰ BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting, with H.E. Mr. Chutintorn Gongsakdi, Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, attending as representative of Thailand’s Minister.

The Meeting deliberated on important documents and decisions in preparation for the 6ᵗʰ BIMSTEC Summit to be held on 4 April 2025. The Ministers endorsed 19 key documents; including Plans of Action in the various sectors of cooperation including Science, Technology and Innovation, and Human Resource Development. Notably, discussions were also held to enhance efforts on disaster management cooperation, especially in relation to the impact of the earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand on 28 March 2025.

Prior to the Meeting, the Ministers signed the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation, which will strengthen maritime connectivity within the BIMSTEC region. Also, the Memorandum of Understanding between BIMSTEC and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and the Memorandum of Understanding between BIMSTEC and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), were signed. The two Memoranda of Understanding will tighten inter-organisational cooperation and enhance BIMSTEC’s role in the international arena.

In the afternoon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, co-organised with TNN World the “BIMSTEC Young Gen Forum: Where the Future Meets” at ICONSIAM, Bangkok. This event was held at the margins of the 6ᵗʰ BIMSTEC Summit by Thailand’s initiative, and served as a platform for young entrepreneurs from BIMSTEC Member States to exchange visions, share experiences, and build networks across seven key areas of BIMSTEC. The event also welcomed His Excellency Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, as the keynote speaker, where he emphasised the innovative character of the new generation, the importance of starting small and replicating, upscaling and impacting change, the importance of imagination, purpose in life and social enterprise.

In the evening, H.E. Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, hosted the Official Dinner of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, prior to the Summit that will take place on 4 April 2025. The evening featured cultural performances titled “Wealthy Bengal”, “Rice Blessing Dance”, and “Kinnaree Classical Dance” by the Bunditpatanasilpa Institute of the Ministry of Culture. These performances reflect Thai cultural identities, as well as the ways of life and aspirations of the Member States and the BIMSTEC grouping.

On 2 April 2025, the first day of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit and Related Meetings, Thailand, as BIMSTEC Chair, hosted the 25ᵗʰ Session of the BIMSTEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) in Bangkok. Mrs. Eksiri Pintaruchi, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and SOM chair, chaired the Meeting while Ms. Rujikorn Saengchantr, Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs, attended as Thailand’s Senior Official.

The Meeting deliberated on important documents and decisions in preparation for the 6ᵗʰ BIMSTEC Summit to be held on 4 April 2025. The meeting also took note of progress made under the BIMSTEC’s seven sectors of cooperation, namely: (1) Trade, Investment and Development; (2) Environment and Climate Change; (3) Security; (4) Agriculture and Food Security; (5) People-to-People Contact; (6) Science, Technology, and Innovation; and (7) Connectivity. As Lead Country on Connectivity, Thailand highlighted the importance of the Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation and the completion of the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway, and presented the “Bangkok Vision 2030” based on the concept of Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC (‘PRO BIMSTEC’), which will serve as the theme in driving forward the agenda of BIMSTEC. The Meeting further discussed administrative and financial issues of BIMSTEC, considered important documents, and noted reports on various BIMSTEC Centres. At the Meeting, all BIMSTEC members expressed solidarity with Myanmar and Thailand following the recent earthquake.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), founded in 1997, comprises seven Member States, namely, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. BIMSTEC aims to promote economic development and resiliency through regional cooperation.