BIMSTEC

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, or BIMSTEC, groups together Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The seven-country forum aims to achieve its own free trade area by 2017.

last update: May 2012
Photo: Palácio do Planalto/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Bimstec representatives call for conclusion of FTA talks

25-Aug-2018 Money Control

The Bimstec member nations include Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal. The summit is scheduled to be held in Kathmandu on August 30-31, 2018.

BIMSTEC calls for expeditious negotiations on free trade agreement

30-Apr-2018 India Today

The seven-nation bloc BIMSTEC today called for specific steps and greater political commitment to conclude negotiations expeditiously for a free trade agreement.

BIMSTEC underlines early finalisation of free trade area accord

11-Aug-2017 Kathmandu Post

The 18th session of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Senior Officials’ meeting has underlined the need of early finalisation of BIMSTEC free trade area agreement.

15th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting in Kathmandu on Aug 11

8-Aug-2017 Himalayan Times

The 15th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting is going be held in Kathmandu on 11 August.

India-Thailand difference delaying FTA under BIMSTEC

7-Aug-2017 Financial Express

Difference between India and Thailand over market access is one of the main reasons why the FTA under BIMSTEC remained stalled during last couple of years.

India must work closely with BIMSTEC on trade push: Assocham

22-Jul-2016 Financial Express

India should work closely with BIMSTEC, a seven-nation grouping, to conclude trade negotiations and attempt early operationalising of the Bay of Bengal free trade agreement to give a big push to trade in the region, industry body Assocham said.

India softens stance on Bay of Bengal free trade agreement

22-Feb-2016 Live Mint

Softening its earlier stand, India has decided to conclude a low-ambition free trade agreement with the seven-nation grouping Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, or Bimstec.

Wither BIMSTEC FTA

20-Sep-2015

Members of the Trade Negotiating Committee of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), a regional bloc of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, are going to meet in Bangkok between 7-9, September 2015, for working on a functional Free Trade Agreement (FTA) among member countries.

2015 can be a ‘game-changer’ for BIMSTEC

13-Jan-2015 BD News 24

Bangladesh hopes that the much-expected BIMSTEC FTA (between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand) will be finalised this year.

Failure to launch

7-Mar-2014 DNA

Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation’s lack of concrete achievement points to the need for greater political will and clarity of purpose

Referenced sites

BIMSTEC

Bangladesh-India-Myanmar-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation (also includes Nepal and Bhutan)

Referenced sites

BIMSTEC

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