The sixth summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, or BIMSTEC, will take place in Thailand in September 2024.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Prime Minister of Bhutan Dasho Tshering Tobgay realize the importance of BIMSTEC for the region, especially on trade and connectivity. The two prime ministers discussed regional cooperation, particularly the issue of BIMSTEC, during their meeting at Government House in Bangkok on 26 June 2024.

Prime Minister Srettha took this opportunity to extend his invitation to the Prime Minister of Bhutan to attend the BIMSTEC Summit in September this year. In this regard, the Prime Minister of Bhutan accepted the invitation to join the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand and invited the Thai Prime Minister to visit Bhutan at his first convenience opportunity.

BIMSTEC is a technical and economic cooperation framework, comprising seven countries - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand - all dependent on the Bay of Bengal. It was established on 6 June 1997 through the initiative of Thailand, which was also host of the first BIMSTEC Summit in 2014.

In his message on the occasion of BIMSTEC Day, 6 June 2024, Prime Minister Srettha said, “This year is especially important for Thailand. The upcoming sixth BIMSTEC Summit will not only mark the second time the meeting is held in Thailand but also the first time BIMSTEC Leaders will meet in person since 2018. The Summit presents a valuable opportunity for Leaders to discuss the future of BIMSTEC and adopt the Bangkok Vision 2030 to define our path toward building a sustainable, prosperous, inclusive, resilient and robust, and open BIMSTEC.”

The document on Bangkok Vision 2030 aims to further promote BIMSTEC as a region of peace, stability, and economic sustainability. The goals found in the Vision are also in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and Thailand’s Bio-Circular-Green Economy Model.