24th BIMSTEC Senior Officials Meeting: India Emphasizes Regional Cooperation

The 24th BIMSTEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) was held virtually on December 20, 2024, hosted by Thailand. India was represented by Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East) from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This crucial meeting served as a platform to review the progress made by the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) since the last SOM in March 2023.

Key Areas of Focus

Discussions centered around key areas of regional cooperation, including:

• Sustainable Development: Promoting environmental protection, climate action, and disaster management.
• Regional Connectivity: Enhancing infrastructure, transportation, and digital connectivity within the BIMSTEC region.
• Security: Addressing shared security challenges, including terrorism, transnational crime, and maritime security.
• People-to-People Exchanges: Fostering cultural and educational exchanges, tourism, and people-to-people contacts.

Key Outcomes

• Finalization of Documents: Several crucial documents were finalized, including:
  • Plans of Action for cooperation in various sectors.
  • New cooperation mechanisms to strengthen regional collaboration.
  • Frameworks for collaboration with external partners.
• Preparation for the 6th BIMSTEC Summit: The meeting laid the groundwork for the upcoming 6th BIMSTEC Summit, which will further strengthen regional cooperation.

India’s Commitment to BIMSTEC

• India reiterated its unwavering commitment to BIMSTEC and its vision for a prosperous and integrated Bay of Bengal region.
• India’s participation aligns with its “Neighbourhood First” Policy, “Vision SAGAR” (Security and Growth for All in the Region), and “Act East” Policy.

Enhancing Regional Cooperation

• Areas of Enhanced Cooperation: The meeting identified key areas for enhanced cooperation, including:
  • Maritime and Digital Connectivity: Improving maritime infrastructure and promoting digital connectivity within the region.
  • Health: Enhancing healthcare cooperation, including pandemic preparedness and response.
  • Food Security: Addressing food security challenges and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
  • Trade and Investment: Facilitating trade and investment flows within the region.
  • Energy: Promoting energy cooperation, including renewable energy and energy efficiency.
  • Skill Development: Enhancing skill development and human resource development within the region.
  • People-to-People Ties: Fostering cultural exchanges, tourism, and people-to-people contacts.
• Development of BIMSTEC Centres of Excellence: The development of BIMSTEC Centres of Excellence in various sectors was emphasized to enhance regional capacity building.

Key Takeaways for Competitive Exams

• BIMSTEC is an important regional grouping focused on economic and technical cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region.
• India plays a crucial role in BIMSTEC and is committed to strengthening regional cooperation.
• Key areas of cooperation within BIMSTEC include sustainable development, connectivity, security, and people-to-people exchanges.
• India’s participation in BIMSTEC aligns with its key foreign policy initiatives.