New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reaffirmed India's commitment to seven-nation grouping Bimstec and stressed its role as an engine for economic and social growth. The foreign ministers of the Bimstec member states made a joint call on Modi on the second and final day of their retreat in Delhi.
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) brings together seven South and Southeast Asia countries for multifaceted cooperation.
Besides India, the Bimstec comprises Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.
After the meeting, Modi, in a post on X, said, "Glad to meet Bimstec foreign ministers. Discussed ways to strengthen regional cooperation, including connectivity, energy, trade, health, agriculture, science, security and people-to-people exchanges. Conveyed full support to Thailand for a successful summit."
A readout by the PMO said Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to a peaceful, prosperous, resilient and safe Bimstec region and highlighted its significance to India's Neighbourhood First and Look East policies as well as its Security and Growth for all in the Region (Sagar) vision.
"The PM had fruitful discussions with the group of ministers on further strengthening regional cooperation in diverse areas, including connectivity, energy, trade, health, agriculture, science, security and people-to-people exchanges," it said.
"He stressed the role of Bimstec as an engine for economic and social growth," the readout noted, adding that Mr Modi expressed India's full support to Thailand for the upcoming Bimstec summit to be held in September.
India hosted the Bimstec foreign ministers' retreat to review various initiatives to expand cooperation among the grouping's member nations. Thailand, as the current Bimstec chair, will host the summit later this year.
External affairs minister S. Jaishankar termed the retreat a "productive" one.
In his inaugural address at the retreat, Jaishankar called on the grouping to infuse new energies, resources and a fresh commitment to bolster cooperation.
India has been making concerted efforts to make Bimstec a vibrant forum for regional cooperation, as initiatives under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) were not moving forward for a variety of reasons.
India has been cooperating with the countries of the Indian Ocean region under the broader policy framework of Sagar.
