Heads of the member states of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) commemorated the 24th BIMSTEC Day on 6 June 2021 with messages that pledged to cooperate with each other in the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and to overcome its consequences. They also conveyed wishes for peace and prosperity of the region in separate messages.

In his message, Mr. Tenzin Lekphell, Secretary General of BIMSTEC, lauded how close cooperation among the Member States has been enhanced, as evidenced by the successful finalization of components of BIMSTEC’s core instruments.

In the 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in February 2021, the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity was approved, and is due to be adopted at the 5th BIMSTEC Summit being planned later this year. Successful implementation of Transport Master Plan will bring BIMSTEC much closer to its goal of a seamlessly connected Bay of Bengal region, noted the Secretary General.

The Secretary General also expressed hope that the BIMSTEC Member States will be able to conclude the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area negotiations at the soonest possible time to enhance intra-regional trade and strengthen the region’s economy and vibrancy.

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Messages from the BIMSTEC Leaders, Foreign Ministers of the Member States and the Secretary General on the occasion of BIMSTEC Day 2021