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BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Pact a Big Step Forward for the Region: India
BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Pact a Big Step Forward for the Region: India
Sputnik India
PM Modi will visit Thailand and Sri Lanka from 3-6 April. In Bangkok, Modi will attend the 6th BIMSTEC Summit and hold bilateral talks with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
2025-03-29T12:53+0530
2025-03-29T12:53+0530
2025-03-29T12:53+0530
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The seven-nation Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) will sign the Maritime Transport Agreement (MTA) at the upcoming Summit in Bangkok on 2-4 April, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) told a briefing in New Delhi.Conceived in 1997, BIMSTEC comprises India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand. The Bangkok Summit will be the first in-person leaders' meeting since the Kathmandu gathering in 2018.The senior Indian diplomat stated that the countries have also adopted a "connectivity blueprint" for the region, with discussions on its implementation currently underway.He mentioned that discussions have also begun on a Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) among the member states to facilitate land transport linkages.Further, Mazumdar informed the briefing that the BIMSTEC nations would also adopt the 'Bangkok Vision 2030' and endorse the report of the BIMSTEC Eminent Persons Group to "chart the future direction" of the grouping at next week's meeting.According to a handout released by the Thai Foreign Ministry, another significant outcome of the Summit would be the signing of a pact between BIMSTEC and the 23-country Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)."PM Modi's decision to host the BIMSTEC Leaders' Retreat in 2016 was a significant development for BIMSTEC," he noted."We lead the security pillar of the cooperation and its focus is on establishing a strong, legal framework to combat terrorism, transnational crimes, and prevent violent extremism in the region," the MEA Secretary stated.He added that India is also focused on strengthening cooperative mechanisms to facilitate ties among security and law enforcement agencies.He noted that India has been hosting regular disaster-management exercises and activities involving advanced weather forecasts.He also stated that India has taken a large number of BIMSTEC-related initiatives, some of which will be rolled out at the upcoming leaders' gathering.The theme of this year's Summit is 'BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient, and Open,' he said.
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BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Pact a Big Step Forward for the Region: India
PM Modi will visit Thailand and Sri Lanka from April 3-6. In Bangkok, Modi will attend the 6th BIMSTEC Summit and hold bilateral talks with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. India has stated that the earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand is unlikely to affect the Summit.
The seven-nation Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) will sign the Maritime Transport Agreement (MTA) at the upcoming Summit in Bangkok on 2-4 April, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) told a briefing in New Delhi.
Conceived in 1997, BIMSTEC comprises India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand. The Bangkok Summit will be the first in-person leaders' meeting since the Kathmandu gathering in 2018.
Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East) at the MEA, described the pact as a "big step forward" for realizing the connectivity ambitions of the grouping, which includes countries from both South and Southeast Asia.
The senior Indian diplomat stated that the countries have also adopted a "connectivity blueprint" for the region, with discussions on its implementation currently underway.
He mentioned that discussions have also begun on a Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) among the member states to facilitate land transport linkages.
Further, Mazumdar informed the briefing that the BIMSTEC nations would also adopt the 'Bangkok Vision 2030' and endorse the report of the BIMSTEC Eminent Persons Group to "chart the future direction" of the grouping at next week's meeting.
"India is very strongly committed to increasing connectivity within BIMSTEC, because a lot of things we want to do in terms of regional integration are tied up with connectivity," Mazumdar said.
According to a handout released by the Thai Foreign Ministry, another significant outcome of the Summit would be the signing of a pact between BIMSTEC and the 23-country Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
Mazumdar emphasized that Prime Minister Modi remains "personally invested" in BIMSTEC, as demonstrated by the fact that he had invited his BIMSTEC counterparts to his inauguration for a second term in 2019.
"PM Modi's decision to host the BIMSTEC Leaders' Retreat in 2016 was a significant development for BIMSTEC," he noted.
Mazumdar said that India's focus within the BIMSTEC grouping is on institutional and capacity building, strengthening security, including maritime and cyber security, climate security (including disaster preparedness), food security, and increased connectivity, which encompasses energy, transport, digital, and people-to-people ties.
"We lead the
security pillar of the cooperation and its focus is on establishing a strong, legal framework to combat terrorism, transnational crimes, and prevent violent extremism in the region," the MEA Secretary stated.
He added that India is also focused on strengthening cooperative mechanisms to facilitate ties among security and law enforcement agencies.
"The BIMSTEC region is prone to extreme weather events and natural disasters. Its relevance is evident today in the devastating earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand. Collaboration in disaster management through Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercises has been a priority area for India," Mazumdar explained.
He noted that India has been hosting regular disaster-management exercises and activities involving advanced weather forecasts.
"Energy security and energy connectivity for the region are also a priority," the Indian diplomat said.
He also stated that India has taken a large number of BIMSTEC-related initiatives, some of which will be rolled out at the upcoming leaders' gathering.
The theme of this year's Summit is 'BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient, and Open,' he said.
At this year's Summit, Thailand will hand over the presidency of the grouping to Bangladesh.
