The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member countries discussed pursuing a visa facilitation scheme on 20-21 November 2024 at the 4th meeting of the BIMSTEC expert group on visa matters. The visa facilitation scheme will help streamline travel procedures and promote easier movement of people within the BIMSTEC region.  

The meeting agreed to facilitate issuance of visas and other related matters for participants at BIMSTEC meetings and activities and encouraged BIMSTEC member countries to conclude visa exemption agreements through bilateral mechanisms and ease visa procedures. 

Visa facilitation measures align with BIMSTEC's broader goals of fostering economic cooperation and people-to-people contacts among its member countries. Its implementation could potentially boost tourism, business interactions, and cultural exchanges among the BIMSTEC nations. 

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BIMSTEC to pursue visa facilitation scheme