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12 November, 2024
BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat’ in New Delhi
Fri 12 Jul, 2024
Context
- The two-day Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Foreign Ministers’ Retreat has been held from 11 July to 12 July 2024 in New Delhi.
- Significance: This is the first meeting after the official charter of BIMSTEC came into force on 20 May 2024.
Key Highlights
- Key areas of discussion: Connectivity projects, Border Stability, Narcotics, Illicit Arms and Cyber Security
- This was the second meeting of BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers after the first edition held in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand on 17th July 2023.
- India's 'Neighbourhood First' and 'Look East' policy and 'Security and Growth for All in the Region' (SAGAR) initiative were also emphasized during the meeting.
BIMSTEC
- It is a regional organisation of seven countries.
- Member countries: 5 South Asian countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka) and 2 South-East Asian countries (Myanmar and Thailand)
- Formed: 6 June 1997 (through 'Bangkok Declaration')
- Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh
- First BIMSTEC Summit: 2004 (Bangkok, Thailand)
| Initiatives | Implemented/Launched | Main objectives |
| 1991 | Look East Policy | It aims to enhance political, economic, and security cooperation with South-East Asian countries. |
| 2008 | Neighbourhood First Policy | India is committed to developing friendly and mutually beneficial relations with all its neighbouring countries. |
| 2015 | SAGAR Initiative (Security and Growth for All in the Region-SAGAR) | It is India's strategic initiative for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). |