Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India's dedication to the BIMSTEC group of nations, emphasizing its crucial role in driving economic and social development. This statement was made during a joint meeting with the foreign ministers of BIMSTEC member states on the last day of their retreat in Delhi.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) unites seven countries from South and Southeast Asia to promote collaboration in various fields. The member countries include India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan.

"Glad to meet BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers. Discussed ways to strengthen regional cooperation, including connectivity, energy, trade, health, agriculture, science, security, and people-to-people exchanges. Conveyed full support to Thailand for a successful Summit," Modi shared on X.

A statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) emphasized Modi's commitment to a peaceful, prosperous, resilient, and secure BIMSTEC region, underscoring its importance to India's 'Neighbourhood First' and 'Look East' policies, as well as the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.

"The PM had fruitful discussions with the group of ministers on further strengthening regional cooperation in diverse areas including connectivity, energy, trade, health, agriculture, science, security, and people-to-people exchanges," the PMO stated.

Modi highlighted BIMSTEC's role as a catalyst for economic and social growth and expressed India's full support for Thailand's upcoming BIMSTEC Summit in September.

The BIMSTEC foreign ministers' retreat, hosted by India, aimed to review and expand cooperative initiatives among the member nations. In his opening address, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar urged the group to inject new energy, resources, and commitment to strengthen cooperation.

India is actively working to make BIMSTEC a dynamic platform for regional collaboration, particularly as efforts within SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) have stalled for various reasons. The country is also engaged with Indian Ocean region nations under the broader SAGAR policy framework.

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