Comparison between Bimstec, Saarc 'misleading', hurts Bimstec's interests: Secretary general

Secretary General of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) Indra Mani Pandey today (21 July) said that the comparison between Bimstec and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) is "misleading and misplaced" and hurts Bimstec's interests.

"My request has always been that Bimstec's vision be appreciated in its own right, and it should not be seen in the context of any other organisation, which has its own history and achievements," he said while responding to a question during an interaction with the members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at the Bimstec headquarters.

He said Bimstec is poised to emerge as a leading regional organisation in the Indo-Pacific, noting that the regional grouping has made significant institutional progress since its establishment in 1997, evolving into a stronger platform for cooperation between South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Pandey said Bimstec was created to bring the two regions closer through practical and tangible cooperation, particularly in technical and economic fields.

"Bimstec enjoys the requisite political support of its members, focuses on forging tangible cooperation and stays away from political issues," said the Bimstec chief, noting that Bimstec is undergoing reforms and revitalisation in order to make it an efficient, effective and dynamic regional organisation.

He said the organisation has achieved notable milestones over the years, including the adoption of its Charter, the development of institutional mechanisms and the formulation of a long-term vision document, reflecting its growing maturity as a regional organisation.

The secretary general said discussions should now focus not only on Bimstec's achievements but also on its future direction, including whether the grouping should broaden its agenda and deepen cooperation in additional sectors to address emerging regional challenges.

Regional cooperation is a prerequisite for the development and security of the Bay of Bengal region, and Bimstec has emerged as a dynamic and suitable platform to realise it, he said.

The secretary general said it serves the core security and developmental interests of Bangladesh as well as other member states. "Bimstec is a real and present opportunity, not a remote and hypothetical possibility."

Talking about challenges, the secretary general said Bangladesh faces similar security and developmental challenges as other Bimstec member states, which it cannot deal with alone.

The agenda of Bimstec, which has evolved with the active participation of Bangladesh, reflects the country's developmental priorities, he said.

Bangladesh leads regional cooperation in key sectors – trade, investment and development, fiscal and monetary policy, as well as the blue economy.

"The success in forging regional cooperation through Bimstec will contribute, directly and indirectly, to the realisation of a developed, secure and prosperous Bangladesh," said the Bimstec chief.

Bangladesh is the current chair of Bimstec. It assumed the chairmanship at the conclusion of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok in April 2025.

The secretary general said Bangladesh has been committed to regional cooperation through Bimstec, based on its belief that regional cooperation contributes to its development.

Pandey said Bimstec is engaged in negotiations on a "Bimstec Motor Vehicles Agreement," which will facilitate land connectivity among the member states.

India has proposed establishing a "Bimstec Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre" in the country.

Pandey said it has been decided to institutionalise the Bimstec Home Ministers' Meeting to strengthen and deepen regional cooperation on security. The inaugural meeting of the home ministers is scheduled to be hosted by India in October 2026.

He said the Bimstec Plan of Action (PoA) on countering radicalisation and terrorism has been finalised, and an "action matrix" to implement it is under consideration.

Pandey said an action matrix for implementing the finalised Plan of Action to combat human trafficking has been developed.

He said Bimstec is also considering measures to enhance the ease of travel, including visa facilitation, and is considering a Bimstec visa facilitation scheme.