BIMSTEC

Definition

A regional grouping of seven countries around the Bay of Bengal, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, that links South Asia and South-East Asia.

Key points

• It was established in 1997 (originally as BIST-EC) and has its permanent secretariat in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• Its seven members are India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand; it bridges the SAARC and ASEAN regions.
• It covers cooperation across sectors such as trade, technology, energy, transport, counter-terrorism, fisheries, and disaster management.
• It has gained prominence as India looks beyond SAARC, which has been stalled by India-Pakistan tensions; notably, Pakistan is not a member of BIMSTEC.
• It aligns with India's Neighbourhood First and Act East policies and the development of the North-East as a connectivity gateway.

Why it matters for CAPF

BIMSTEC, its seven members, its Bay of Bengal focus, and its rise relative to SAARC are common international-relations and current-affairs facts with a security dimension (counter-terrorism cooperation).

Common confusion

BIMSTEC has seven members and excludes Pakistan, while SAARC has eight members and includes Pakistan. BIMSTEC bridges South Asia and South-East Asia (two ASEAN members, Myanmar and Thailand), unlike SAARC, which is purely South Asian.

Related concepts

concept neighbourhood first, concept act east policy, concept indian ocean rim association, concept sco

Parent note

international organisations and india