Sri Lanka aiming to host BIMSTEC summit in August, India keen on grouping

New Delhi: Sri Lanka is planning to host the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit in mid August, with dates nonetheless to be finalized.

This would be the fifth such summit of the grouping. The final summit occurred in Kathmandu in 2018, with PM Modi attending the meet.

BIMSTEC has 7 members- India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka. The grouping is greater than 20 years previous and was shaped in 1997. 

The summit might occur bodily, however relies upon on the covid scenario. Sri Lanka because the chair of the grouping this 12 months, is eyeing for a bodily summit. 

Last week it held the international minister’s digital summit. The agenda for the leaders’ assembly was taken up throughout this summit. 

The agenda will include the approval of BIMSTEC Charter,BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity & BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. Grouping can be working on finalization of BIMSTEC Coastal Shipping Agreement and the Motor Vehicles Agreement. 

India could be very keen on the grouping, with SAARC being unable to operate properly due to Pakistan’s politicization of many proposals from India. 

At the international minister digital meet, External Affairs minister S Jaishankar stated, “BIMSTEC over the years has emerged as a promising sub-regional grouping with growing strategic and economic interests of the Member States, as well as of the international community in the Bay of Bengal region.”

In 2019, India had invited BIMSTEC heads of presidency & states for PM Modi’s oath taking ceremony for 2nd time period. After Sri Lanka, Thailand would be the host of the grouping.