Thailand is set to host the sixth Bimstec Summit in Bangkok on September 4, with Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa presiding over the event. Bimstec, which stands for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand as member states.
During the second Bimstec foreign ministers’ retreat in New Delhi, Maris confirmed Thailand’s readiness to host the upcoming summit. He highlighted the role of the private sector in implementing government policies effectively and announced the concurrent hosting of the Bimstec Young Entrepreneur Forum. This forum seeks to facilitate dialogue among young business leaders from member countries.
Maris also met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing anticipation for his attendance at the summit. The two sides discussed Thailand’s strategic position as a bridge linking South Asian and Southeast Asian markets involving over 4 billion people.
The retreat in India, led by the Minister of External Affairs of India, saw participation from various Bimstec nations. Talks focused on enhancing cooperation in sustainable development, the digital economy, and disaster management. Maris also advocated for increased collaboration on non-traditional security issues such as food security, human security, and energy security. (NNT)
