Kathmandu: Nepal's Foreign Secretary, Sewa Lamsal, is set to depart for India today to participate in the Second BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat, as announced by Nepal's Foreign Ministry. The retreat, scheduled for July 11-12, 2024, in New Delhi, India, aims to enhance regional cooperation among the seven South and Southeast Asian nations comprising the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

According to the Foreign Ministry's press release, "Foreign Secretary Ms. Sewa Lamsal will lead a Nepali delegation to New Delhi for the Second BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat, focusing on strengthening cooperation and partnerships across various mutually beneficial areas within the BIMSTEC framework."

During her visit, Sewa Lamsal is expected to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with other BIMSTEC delegates. The retreat will provide a platform for discussions on expanding collaboration in sectors such as security, connectivity, trade, investment, and people-to-people contacts in the Bay of Bengal region and its surrounding areas.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will host the retreat, facilitating informal discussions among the participating Foreign Ministers to explore avenues for deeper regional integration.

The MEA highlighted that the inaugural BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat took place in Bangkok, Thailand, in July 2023, marking a milestone in regional cooperation efforts. BIMSTEC's membership includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, fostering multifaceted cooperation across South and Southeast Asia.

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