Indian PM Modi to virtually attend BIMSTEC Summit today

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the 5th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit virtually today (30), the External Affairs Ministry of India said.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is to chair the Summit Meeting today with the virtual participation of leaders of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Thailand. Myanmar is to be represented by the Foreign Minister of Myanmar.

“The Covid pandemic-related challenges, and the uncertainties within the international system that all BIMSTEC members are facing, imparts greater urgency to the goal of taking BIMSTEC technical and economic cooperation to the next level,” the Indian External Affairs Ministry said.

The BIMSTEC Senior Officials (SOM) took place on Monday (28) followed by meetings of the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers (BMM) yesterday. 

Foreign Ministers of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Thailand participated in person while the Foreign Minister of Myanmar participated virtually.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry here said Foreign Minister Prof. G.L.Pieris addressing the gathering yesterday called for action within the BIMSTEC for greater economic cooperation among the countries.

“The participation and networking among the private sectors in the region is a significant step towards this end and that the organisation should take the lead in building a robust and dynamic private sector network and facilitate the private sectors in this region to work together to enhance the flow of trade and investment,” Prof. Peiris said.