CURRENT UPDATE : BIMSTEC SUMMIT - 2014

BIMSTEC SUMMIT - 2014

Leaders from the seven-nation BIMSTEC on Tuesday vowed to jointly combat the growing threat of terrorism, transnational crimes and drug trafficking and agreed to intensify efforts to enhance connectivity and cooperation in areas like trade, energy and environment.

The 7 BIMSTEC [Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation] member nations (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Mynarmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand) today adopted the Third BIMSTEC Summit Declaration reiterating the firm commitment of the grouping to alleviate poverty and improve the quality of life and well-being of the people of the region.

 In a strong effort to create the institutional and economic architecture for rapid co-operative regional development, 2 memorandum of understandings for establishing a permanent secretariat at Dhaka, and for BIMSTEC Weather and Climate Change Centre in India were signed during the today's summit. Another MoU was also signed for establishing a BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission and BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory in Thimpu.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his statement, called for early conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement, focussing first on trade and services and later investment. Dr Singh said India is working with BIMSTEC countries on developing infrastructure through various road projects like India-Mynarmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, the Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project and the Asian Highway Network. Expressing the need for greater cooperation in energy, he called for greater connectivity through energy grids, transmission highways, gas and oil pipelines, and exploring opportunities for co-operation in renewable sources. Saying that our security is indivisible, Dr. Manmohan Singh called for early ratification of the Convention on Co-operation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organised Crime, and Illicit Drug Trafficking. 

On the sidelines of the Summit, the Prime Minister had bilateral meetings with President Thein Sein of Mynarmar, Nepalease Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Srilankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,and Bhutan Prime Minister Lyonchhen Tshering Lobgay. Before leaving for Delhi this evening, he also had a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairperson of National Democratic League of Mynarmar. Issues of frequent imprisonment of fishermen by Srilanka was discussed with both sides agreeing to treat it as a livelihood security issue. During the India-Bangladesh bilateral, Dr. Manmohan Singh told Sheikh Hasina about India's efforte to work out a national consensus on issues of LBA and Teesta water sharing.

During the Summit, the chairmanship of the grouping consisting of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Mynarmar, Sri lanka and Thailand has been handed over to Nepal, The Summit also endorsed the appointment of Sumiith Nakadala, Ambassador of Sri Lanka as first BIMSTEC Secretary General.