Held: April 5, 2025
📍 Host: Thailand (Current Chair)
🎯 Theme: “BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient, and Open”
🤝 New Chair: Bangladesh
🔹 Context & Significance
First in-person Summit in 7 years.
Focused on shared prosperity amid global uncertainties.
India showcased leadership through multiple initiatives.
🇮🇳 India-led Initiatives at the Summit
✅ 21-Point Action Plan Highlights
🔥 Disaster Management
BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence for Disaster Management in India.
4th Joint Exercises of BIMSTEC Disaster Authorities to be held in India.
🧠 Skill Development & Youth Engagement
BODHI Program – Training & scholarships for students, researchers, diplomats.
300 youth from BIMSTEC countries to be trained annually in India.
BIMSTEC Athletics Meet 2025, BIMSTEC Games 2027.
🔮 Future Trends & Challenges
Right-wing immigration policies may limit permanent residency → May
prompt higher remittances home instead of investing abroad
India’s working-age population will remain high until 2048, positioning it
as a global labor supplier
🧩 Policy Recommendations
Skill Harmonisation with destination countries
Bilateral Agreements to protect worker rights and ensure job security
Protection against deskilling of low-skilled laborers
Streamline remittance channels for ease and transparency
💡 What are Remittances?
Transfers of money from workers abroad to family back home.
Sent through: Banks, digital platforms, money transfer operators
Significance:
▸ Stabilizes foreign exchange reserves
▸ Supports household consumption
▸ Reduces trade/current account deficits
Youth-focused programs:
▸ Young Leaders’ Summit
▸ Hackathon
▸ Young Professional Visitors Program
🌐 Digital & Financial Integration
Pilot Study on Digital Public Infrastructure.
Cancer care capacity building initiative.
UPI Connectivity proposal with BIMSTEC nations.
📡 Space & Science
Nano-satellites for member nations.
Setup of ground stations, use of remote sensing data.
🚢 Connectivity & Trade
Proposal for BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce & Business Summit.
Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre to be established in India.
🌏 About BIMSTEC
Full Form: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic
Cooperation
Established: 1997 (Bangkok Declaration)
Members: 7
▸ Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand
Objective:
▸ Promote economic & technical cooperation
▸ Encourage sustainable development & integration across Bay of Bengal region
📝 Key Outcomes of the 2025 Summit
🌟 BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030
A long-term blueprint for: ▸ Trade
▸ Transport connectivity
▸ People’s welfare
▸ Regional prosperity
📘 Rules of Procedure Adopted
Standardizes functioning and improves efficiency of BIMSTEC.
📄 Report by BIMSTEC Eminent Persons Group
Strategic recommendations aligned with the 2030 vision.
⚓ Maritime Transport Cooperation Agreement
Improves sea connectivity between South and Southeast Asia.
Benefits: Faster trade, lower costs, improved movement of people and goods.