BIMSTEC, or Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, is a regional grouping established in 1997. It comprises seven countries: India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand. These nations are connected through the Bay of Bengal and aim to foster regional collaboration across various sectors including trade, transport, energy, technology, and security.
BIMSTEC holds significant strategic importance for India from both geopolitical and economic perspectives. It bolsters India's "Act East" policy by enhancing relations with Southeast Asia. Additionally, it provides India with a platform to counterbalance China's influence in the region and offers an alternative to the relatively stagnant SAARC. Through BIMSTEC, India can focus on common objectives such as disaster management, maritime cooperation, and digital connectivity with its eastern neighbors.
The 6th summit, hosted by Thailand in April 2025, resulted in the signing of a maritime transport agreement and the adoption of the "Bangkok Vision 2030." This strategic roadmap aims to improve port efficiency, harmonize trade and customs procedures, and enhance regional prosperity. India proposed initiatives such as linking the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) among member countries and enhancing collaboration in youth development, disaster response, and space cooperation.
The Bangkok Vision 2030 is a comprehensive strategy document adopted by BIMSTEC members to facilitate regional integration. It emphasizes shared goals such as maritime cooperation, digital infrastructure, renewable energy, sustainable development, and disaster preparedness. This vision aims to build trust among member nations, streamline trade, and boost cross-border connectivity.
Despite its formation in 1997, BIMSTEC has convened only six summits over 28 years, highlighting internal challenges. These include political instability, bilateral tensions—such as those between India and Myanmar, and Bangladesh and Myanmar—and varying levels of development and foreign policy alignments among members. Such factors have hindered effective regional cooperation.
Intra-BIMSTEC trade has shown significant improvement, increasing from $5 billion in 2000 to approximately $60 billion in 2023. India's bilateral trade with Thailand reached $14.94 billion in 2023–24, while trade with Bangladesh was $12.9 billion. However, challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, slow implementation of trade agreements, and insufficient financial investment continue to impede faster growth.
BIMSTEC is pivotal to India's Act East Policy, aiming to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian nations. Through BIMSTEC, India can engage in regional connectivity projects, promote energy and digital cooperation, and establish strategic maritime partnerships. This platform allows India to position itself as a regional leader while navigating political obstacles that may arise in the SAARC framework.
India has taken a proactive approach in areas such as security cooperation, disaster management, and energy connectivity. During the 2025 summit, India advocated for increased economic and technological collaboration, including cross-border UPI integration and a regional youth platform. Additionally, India is establishing key centers of excellence to bolster disaster risk reduction and skill development.
Internal tensions, particularly between Bangladesh and Myanmar regarding the Rohingya refugee crisis, have complicated cooperation efforts. The political situation in Myanmar, particularly its military regime and actions against Rohingya Muslims, has raised diplomatic concerns. Although BIMSTEC remains operational, the lack of consensus and trust among some members has hampered progress.
Q1. What is the main goal of BIMSTEC?
Answer: BIMSTEC aims to foster regional cooperation among its member countries across sectors like trade, energy, and security to enhance mutual growth and stability.
Q2. How does India benefit from BIMSTEC?
Answer: India benefits from BIMSTEC by strengthening ties with Southeast Asia, countering China's influence, and collaborating on shared initiatives such as disaster management and connectivity.
Q3. What does the Bangkok Vision 2030 entail?
Answer: The Bangkok Vision 2030 outlines a roadmap for regional integration focusing on maritime cooperation, digital infrastructure, and sustainable development among member states.
Q4. Why is BIMSTEC facing challenges in effectiveness?
Answer: BIMSTEC faces challenges due to political instability, differing development levels among members, and bilateral tensions that hinder collective action and decision-making.
Q5. What are India's future plans within BIMSTEC?
Answer: India's future plans include enhancing economic cooperation, integrating UPI across borders, and establishing centers for disaster risk reduction and skill development.
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