India Hosts BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat: A Step Towards Regional Cooperation
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | 2nd BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat |
| Host | India |
| Location | New Delhi |
| Purpose | Accelerate regional cooperation in security, connectivity, trade, and investment |
| Preparation for | 6th BIMSTEC Summit in September |
| Key Proposals | Centers of Excellence (Agriculture, Disaster Management, Maritime Transport), e-visas for medical patients, private sector involvement in trade, countering narcotics and illegal arms trafficking |
| India's Initiatives | Cancer research support, Teesta project progress, supply of daily essentials to Bangladesh |
| Member States | India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan |
| Sri Lanka's Proposal | Mapping mineral resources, vertical integration in production sectors |
| Bangladesh's Proposal | Blue Economy cooperation, banning fishing during breeding season |
| Bhutan's Proposal | Collaboration in tourism and cultural exchanges |
| Nepal's Proposal | Leveraging synergies to make BIMSTEC results-oriented |
| Thailand's Proposal | Cooperation in non-traditional security domains (e.g., cyber-security) |
| Myanmar's Proposal | Combating online scamming |
| Bilateral Discussions | Discussions with Myanmar on displaced persons, narcotics, and arms; Teesta project with Bangladesh |