Bangladesh has taken over as chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) for the coming two years, underscoring its dedication to enhancing regional collaboration and development.
According to the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra officially handed over the role to Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus at the conclusion of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok on Friday.
Upon assuming the position, Yunus outlined Bangladesh’s vision for an inclusive, results-driven BIMSTEC and detailed the country’s strategic priorities for the regional organization.
During the summit, leaders from all BIMSTEC member states unanimously endorsed the Bangkok Declaration and the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision, which serve as a strategic framework for fostering sustainable development and deeper economic integration.
The BIMSTEC group includes seven countries from the Bay of Bengal region—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The chairing process follows an alphabetical rotation, with the current host nation of the summit passing the baton to the next member state.
Established in 1997, BIMSTEC has emerged as a key platform for regional cooperation, focusing on areas such as trade, technology, transport, energy, and counterterrorism.
