BIMSTEC and India

1. Introduction

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising seven countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Established in 1997, BIMSTEC aims to promote regional cooperation in areas such as connectivity, trade, security, energy, disaster management, and sustainable development. By linking South Asia and Southeast Asia, it has emerged as an important platform for fostering economic integration and regional stability in the strategically significant Bay of Bengal region. BIMSTEC and India has consequently become an important area of India’s regional engagement.

For India, BIMSTEC has become a key pillar of its regional and Indo-Pacific strategy. It complements India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, Act East Policy, SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) by strengthening connectivity, enhancing maritime cooperation, promoting regional security, and deepening engagement with neighbouring countries and ASEAN. Consequently, BIMSTEC and India has gained increasing prominence in India’s foreign policy as an effective platform for regional cooperation and sustainable development. BIMSTEC and India Relations are therefore closely connected with India’s wider regional and Indo-Pacific objectives.

2. Evolution of BIMSTEC

• 1997 – Formation: BIMSTEC and India began their institutional journey together when BIMSTEC was established on 6 June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration as BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation) to promote regional economic cooperation. India and BIMSTEC have therefore been closely associated since the organisation’s inception.
• Expansion of Membership: Myanmar joined in 1997, leading to the renaming of the grouping as BIMST-EC. Subsequently, Bhutan and Nepal became members in 2004, after which it was renamed BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation). BIMSTEC and India Relations expanded further with the organisation’s wider membership.
• Institutional Development: A permanent Secretariat was established in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 2014, strengthening institutional coordination and implementation of BIMSTEC initiatives. BIMSTEC for India consequently gained greater institutional relevance as a platform for regional cooperation.
• Adoption of the BIMSTEC Charter (2022): The 5th BIMSTEC Summit (Colombo, 2022) adopted the BIMSTEC Charter, providing the organisation with a formal legal and institutional framework and restructuring cooperation into seven priority sectors, each led by a member state.
• Bangkok Vision 2030 (2025): At the 6th BIMSTEC Summit (Bangkok, Thailand), member countries adopted the Bangkok Vision 2030, the first long-term strategic roadmap aimed at transforming BIMSTEC into a prosperous, resilient and integrated regional organisation.

3. Why is India Prioritising BIMSTEC over SAARC?

Ineffectiveness of SAARC

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has gradually lost its effectiveness due to persistent political and security tensions, particularly between India and Pakistan. Since its establishment in 1985, SAARC has been unable to realise its full potential as a regional integration platform because bilateral disputes have frequently overshadowed regional cooperation. The 19th SAARC Summit, scheduled to be held in Islamabad in 2016, was postponed after India and several other member countries withdrew following the Uri terrorist attack, and no summit has been held since then. As a result, progress on key initiatives such as the SAARC Free Trade Area (SAFTA), regional connectivity, energy cooperation and security collaboration has remained limited. Recognising these structural constraints, India has increasingly shifted its focus towards more effective and result-oriented regional groupings such as BIMSTEC. BIMSTEC and India has consequently gained greater importance in India’s regional diplomacy.

Pakistan-Free Regional Cooperation

One of the biggest advantages of BIMSTEC from India’s perspective is that it does not include Pakistan, allowing member countries to focus on functional and development-oriented cooperation without being hindered by bilateral political disputes. This has enabled BIMSTEC to make steady progress in areas such as connectivity, maritime security, energy cooperation, counter-terrorism, disaster management and trade facilitation. Unlike SAARC, where political disagreements often stalled regional initiatives, BIMSTEC has successfully adopted important institutional milestones such as the BIMSTEC Charter (2022) and the Bangkok Vision 2030 (2025), reflecting a stronger commitment to regional integration. For India, this makes BIMSTEC a more pragmatic, flexible and effective platform for advancing its regional and strategic interests in the Bay of Bengal region. BIMSTEC Significance for India is therefore closely linked to its ability to facilitate practical regional cooperation.

Gateway to Southeast Asia

BIMSTEC serves as a strategic bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia, making it an important instrument for advancing India’s Act East Policy. By bringing together five South Asian countries and two ASEAN members (Myanmar and Thailand), BIMSTEC enhances India’s connectivity with the dynamic economies of Southeast Asia. Flagship projects such as the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway, the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, and the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity are expected to improve regional trade, logistics, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. Improved connectivity is also crucial for the socio-economic development of India’s North-Eastern States, enabling them to emerge as India’s gateway to ASEAN markets. Thus, BIMSTEC strengthens India’s economic integration with the wider Indo-Pacific region. India BIMSTEC Relations UPSC is important for understanding this connectivity dimension.

Strategic Importance of the Bay of Bengal

The Bay of Bengal has emerged as one of the most strategically significant regions in the Indo-Pacific, carrying a substantial share of global maritime trade and energy shipments. For India, BIMSTEC provides an effective platform to strengthen maritime security, regional stability and cooperation in this vital maritime space. The grouping promotes collaboration in areas such as maritime connectivity, Blue Economy, disaster management, coastal security and humanitarian assistance, while supporting the principles of freedom of navigation and a rules-based maritime order. BIMSTEC also complements India’s regional initiatives such as SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), reinforcing India’s role as a net security provider and a leading maritime power in the Bay of Bengal. BIMSTEC Significance for India is therefore closely linked to India’s maritime and strategic interests.

Alignment with India’s Foreign Policy Priorities

BIMSTEC closely aligns with India’s major foreign policy initiatives, making it a natural platform for advancing its regional and strategic objectives. It complements the Neighbourhood First Policy by strengthening cooperation with neighbouring countries, while simultaneously supporting the Act East Policy by deepening India’s engagement with Southeast Asia. BIMSTEC also reinforces India’s maritime vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) through enhanced cooperation in maritime security, connectivity, disaster management and the Blue Economy. By integrating these foreign policy frameworks into a single regional platform, BIMSTEC has emerged as a key instrument for promoting India’s vision of a secure, connected and prosperous Indo-Pacific. BIMSTEC and India Relations therefore remain important for India’s wider regional diplomacy.

Greater Potential for Regional Economic Integration

Unlike SAARC, where economic cooperation has remained constrained by political differences, BIMSTEC offers greater prospects for regional economic integration due to its strategic location and complementary economies. Collectively, BIMSTEC countries account for around 1.8 billion people and a combined GDP of over US$5 trillion, representing a rapidly growing regional market. Ongoing negotiations on the BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement (FTA), implementation of the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity, expansion of cross-border energy cooperation through the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection, and initiatives to improve maritime transport are expected to strengthen trade, investment and regional value chains. For India, BIMSTEC provides a valuable opportunity to expand regional commerce, diversify supply chains and position itself as a key economic hub linking South Asia with Southeast Asia. BIMSTEC and India therefore has significant economic importance for India’s regional integration strategy. BIMSTEC for India can serve as an important platform for expanding trade and investment.

4. Significance of BIMSTEC for India

Enhancing Regional Connectivity and Economic Integration

• BIMSTEC strengthens regional connectivity by promoting seamless road, rail, maritime, air and digital connectivity among member countries, facilitating the movement of goods, services and people. BIMSTEC and India Relations are therefore closely linked with India’s efforts to improve regional connectivity.
• It supports the implementation of strategic connectivity projects such as the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway, the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, and the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity, thereby improving regional integration.
• BIMSTEC provides India with greater opportunities to expand trade, investment, tourism and cross-border value chains, while ongoing negotiations on the BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) aim to further enhance regional economic cooperation.
• Improved connectivity through BIMSTEC is expected to accelerate the socio-economic development of India’s North-Eastern States, transforming them into a gateway for trade and commerce with Southeast Asia.
• By linking the economies of South Asia and Southeast Asia, BIMSTEC strengthens India’s position as a regional economic hub and supports initiatives such as Make in India, PM Gati Shakti, and Atmanirbhar Bharat. BIMSTEC Significance for India is particularly evident in these connectivity and economic opportunities.

Strengthening Regional Security and Maritime Cooperation

• India is the Lead Country for the Security Sector under BIMSTEC, reflecting its central role in promoting regional peace, stability and security cooperation. India and BIMSTEC therefore provides an important platform for India’s regional security engagement.
• BIMSTEC enhances cooperation in combating terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrime, human trafficking, drug trafficking and transnational organised crime, addressing common security challenges faced by member countries.
• The grouping promotes maritime security in the strategically important Bay of Bengal through cooperation in maritime domain awareness, coastal security, search and rescue operations, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).
• BIMSTEC also supports collaboration in the Blue Economy, encouraging the sustainable use of marine resources, fisheries, coastal tourism and ocean-based economic development.
• As the Bay of Bengal is highly vulnerable to cyclones, tsunamis and other natural disasters, BIMSTEC strengthens regional cooperation in disaster preparedness, early warning systems, capacity building and coordinated disaster response, thereby enhancing regional resilience. BIMSTEC for India is consequently significant for both maritime security and disaster management.

Energy, Technology and Sustainable Development Cooperation

• BIMSTEC promotes regional energy cooperation through initiatives such as the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection, enabling cross-border electricity trade and improving regional energy security. BIMSTEC and India cooperation in this area can strengthen India’s regional energy partnerships.
• The grouping encourages collaboration in renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean technologies, supporting India’s transition towards sustainable and low-carbon development.
• Cooperation in science, technology and innovation, including digital connectivity, digital public infrastructure, research and capacity building, strengthens India’s technological partnerships within the region.
• BIMSTEC also facilitates joint efforts to address climate change, environmental conservation, food security and sustainable agriculture, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• By strengthening cooperation in emerging sectors, BIMSTEC supports India’s vision of inclusive, sustainable and technology-driven regional development. India BIMSTEC Relations UPSC is important for understanding India’s role in these emerging areas.

Enhancing India’s Regional Leadership and Strategic Influence

• BIMSTEC has strengthened India’s position as a leading regional power by providing an effective platform to shape the political, economic and security agenda of the Bay of Bengal region. BIMSTEC Significance for India is clearly reflected in India’s growing regional leadership.
• As the Lead Country for the Security Sector, India plays a pivotal role in advancing cooperation in counter-terrorism, disaster management, maritime security and capacity building, reinforcing its image as a net security provider in the region.
• BIMSTEC enables India to deepen engagement with both South Asia and Southeast Asia, thereby enhancing its diplomatic influence and supporting a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
• Through initiatives such as the BIMSTEC Charter (2022), Bangkok Vision 2030 (2025), and proposals on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), disaster management and regional connectivity, India has emerged as a key driver of BIMSTEC’s institutional and functional development.
• By promoting a rules-based, cooperative and development-oriented regional order, BIMSTEC enhances India’s strategic influence while reducing the strategic vacuum in the Bay of Bengal, a region of growing geopolitical importance. BIMSTEC for India is therefore significant for India’s wider regional leadership.

Platform for Advancing India’s Foreign Policy Objectives

• BIMSTEC serves as an effective platform for implementing India’s Neighbourhood First Policy by strengthening political, economic and developmental cooperation with neighbouring countries in the Bay of Bengal region. India and BIMSTEC therefore supports India’s wider neighbourhood engagement.
• It complements the Act East Policy by enhancing India’s connectivity and engagement with Myanmar and Thailand, thereby linking South Asia with ASEAN and the wider Indo-Pacific region.
• The grouping reinforces India’s maritime vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) by promoting maritime security, Blue Economy, disaster resilience and sustainable use of marine resources.
• BIMSTEC also supports the objectives of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) by encouraging regional cooperation in maritime connectivity, marine ecology, capacity building and disaster risk reduction.
• By integrating these foreign policy initiatives into a single regional framework, BIMSTEC enables India to promote regional stability, sustainable development and a rules-based Indo-Pacific, while reinforcing its role as a responsible and influential regional power. BIMSTEC and India Relations thus remain important for India’s broader foreign policy objectives.

5. Challenges for India in BIMSTEC

• Political Instability in Myanmar: Myanmar is India’s only land bridge to Southeast Asia and a crucial member of BIMSTEC. However, the political instability following the 2021 military coup, armed conflicts and security concerns have significantly delayed key connectivity projects such as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway. The unstable security situation also affects border management, trade and regional integration, limiting the effectiveness of BIMSTEC. BIMSTEC and India therefore faces a major challenge in ensuring uninterrupted connectivity with Southeast Asia.
• Slow Implementation of Connectivity Projects: Although connectivity is one of BIMSTEC’s core priorities, several flagship projects have witnessed significant delays due to financial constraints, difficult terrain, security challenges and bureaucratic hurdles. Slow implementation of projects such as the Kaladan Project, Trilateral Highway, and components of the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity has reduced the pace of regional economic integration and affected India’s efforts to strengthen links with Southeast Asia. India BIMSTEC Relations UPSC is particularly relevant to understanding these connectivity challenges.
• Institutional and Financial Constraints: Compared to organisations such as ASEAN and the European Union, BIMSTEC has a relatively small Secretariat, limited financial resources and weak institutional capacity. The absence of a dedicated funding mechanism and slow implementation of decisions often restrict the organisation’s ability to execute regional projects efficiently. Strengthening BIMSTEC’s institutional framework remains essential for improving its effectiveness.
• China’s Growing Influence in the Bay of Bengal Region: Although China is not a member of BIMSTEC, its expanding economic and strategic presence in the Bay of Bengal through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and infrastructure investments in neighbouring countries presents a strategic challenge for India. To maintain its regional influence, India needs to accelerate connectivity projects, deepen economic cooperation and strengthen BIMSTEC as a credible regional platform. BIMSTEC Significance for India is therefore also linked to its strategic competition and regional influence.
• Limited Progress in Regional Economic Integration: Despite significant economic potential, intra-BIMSTEC trade remains relatively low, and negotiations on the BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) have progressed slowly. Differences in trade policies, non-tariff barriers and varying levels of economic development among member countries continue to impede deeper economic integration. Accelerating trade liberalisation and improving connectivity are essential for unlocking BIMSTEC’s full economic potential. BIMSTEC for India therefore requires greater economic integration to realise its full potential.

6. Recent BIMSTEC Summit (2025) and Major Outcomes

The 6th BIMSTEC Summit was held on 4 April 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand, under the theme “Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC.” The Summit marked a significant milestone in BIMSTEC’s evolution by strengthening its institutional framework and adopting measures to deepen regional cooperation in connectivity, security, trade, disaster management and sustainable development. Leaders adopted the 6th BIMSTEC Summit Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to making BIMSTEC a more effective and action-oriented regional organisation. BIMSTEC and India was further strengthened through India’s active participation and initiatives at the Summit.

Key Outcomes of the Summit

• Adoption of Bangkok Vision 2030: BIMSTEC adopted its first long-term Vision Document, providing a strategic roadmap to transform the organisation into a prosperous, resilient and integrated regional grouping by 2030. BIMSTEC Significance for India is reflected in this long-term framework for deeper regional integration.
• Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation: Member countries signed the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation, aimed at improving maritime connectivity, facilitating trade, reducing logistics costs and strengthening regional supply chains across the Bay of Bengal.
• Strengthening Disaster Management: In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand, leaders agreed to enhance regional disaster preparedness and supported the early establishment of the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence for Disaster Management in India.
• India’s Key Initiatives: Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed linking UPI with the payment systems of BIMSTEC countries, promoting trade in local currencies, establishing a BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce, institutionalising the Home Ministers’ Mechanism, hosting its first meeting in India, and organising the first BIMSTEC Games in 2027. India also offered to share its experience in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) with member countries. India and BIMSTEC therefore received further momentum through India’s practical cooperation proposals.
• Focus on Connectivity and Security: The Summit reaffirmed BIMSTEC’s commitment to accelerating implementation of the Master Plan for Transport Connectivity, strengthening cooperation in counter-terrorism, cyber security, transnational crime, energy, public health and climate resilience, and promoting greater people-to-people exchanges. BIMSTEC and India Relations can benefit significantly from faster implementation of these initiatives.

These outcomes further reinforced BIMSTEC’s growing importance in India’s Neighbourhood First, Act East and Indo-Pacific strategies, while positioning the organisation as an increasingly effective platform for regional cooperation in the Bay of Bengal. BIMSTEC for India therefore remains important for advancing India’s regional connectivity, security and economic objectives.

7. Way Forward

• Accelerate Connectivity Projects: Expedite the implementation of the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway, Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, and the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity to enhance regional integration. BIMSTEC and India should prioritise faster execution of these projects to strengthen India’s connectivity with Southeast Asia.
• Strengthen Institutional Capacity: Enhance the financial and administrative capacity of the BIMSTEC Secretariat, establish robust implementation and monitoring mechanisms, and ensure timely execution of regional initiatives.
• Conclude the BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement (FTA): Fast-track negotiations on the BIMSTEC FTA, reduce non-tariff barriers, and promote seamless trade, investment and regional value chains. BIMSTEC Significance for India is closely connected with the economic opportunities created by deeper regional integration.
• Enhance Maritime and Security Cooperation: Deepen collaboration in maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyber security, disaster management and the Blue Economy, while strengthening India’s role as the Lead Country for the Security Sector. India BIMSTEC Relations UPSC should be studied in the context of India’s growing maritime and security role in the Bay of Bengal.
• Promote Digital and Energy Connectivity: Expand cooperation in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), UPI-based cross-border payments, renewable energy and the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection to create a more integrated and resilient regional economy. India and BIMSTEC can play an important role in advancing this digital and energy integration.
• Strengthen India’s Leadership: India should continue leveraging BIMSTEC to advance its Neighbourhood First Policy, Act East Policy, SAGAR and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) while promoting a stable, secure and prosperous Bay of Bengal region. BIMSTEC for India therefore remains an important instrument for achieving India’s regional strategic objectives.

8. Conclusion

BIMSTEC has emerged as a key pillar of India’s regional diplomacy by providing an effective platform to strengthen connectivity, security, economic integration and maritime cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region. As SAARC continues to face political constraints, BIMSTEC offers India a pragmatic avenue to advance its Neighbourhood First Policy, Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision. BIMSTEC and India therefore remains important for India’s regional and strategic interests. By addressing implementation challenges and deepening regional cooperation, BIMSTEC has the potential to become a dynamic driver of peace, prosperity and sustainable development in South and Southeast Asia. BIMSTEC and India Relations will remain significant as India seeks to strengthen its engagement with both South Asia and Southeast Asia.

BPSC Mains Practice Questions

1. Why is India increasingly prioritising BIMSTEC over SAARC? Discuss the strategic, economic and geopolitical factors behind this shift.

2. Examine the significance of BIMSTEC for India. Also discuss the major challenges in realizing the full potential of the organisation.

3. Discuss the role of BIMSTEC in advancing India’s Neighbourhood First and Act East policies. What are the major challenges before India in making BIMSTEC an effective regional platform?

External Link

For authoritative information on BIMSTEC and India, other member states, summits, agreements, initiatives and regional cooperation, use the official BIMSTEC Secretariat website.