Leaders from the Bay of Bengal region will hold a summit in Bangkok on April 4 to strengthen economic and connectivity cooperation, according to an informed diplomatic source.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be among the leaders of the seven-member regional grouping, known collectively as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). The 6th summit will take place from April 2-5 in Bangkok.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn will chair the summit alongside the leaders of Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Bhutan. The bloc was founded in Bangkok in 1997 to deepen economic cooperation among countries in the Bay of Bengal.
The organization serves as a bridge connecting South and Southeast Asia, fostering economic, social, and cultural ties across the region.
The summit will also include the signing of the BIMSTEC Summit Declaration, encapsulating the collective intentions and achievements of the member states under Thailand's chairmanship.
Additionally, the summit will adopt the Bangkok Vision 2030, outlining strategic directions for the organization's future, according to the source.
Furthermore, leaders will review the Report of the Eminent Persons' Group on the Future Direction of BIMSTEC.
During the summit, a series of bilateral meetings will take place among members to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties. The source added that the Bangkok summit will also focus on maritime cooperation, sustainable development, and connectivity.
On the sidelines, Thailand and Bhutan will sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) aimed at bolstering trade relations, expanding market access, and fostering economic cooperation in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, education, and renewable energy.
In 2024, trade between the two countries reached 460 million baht, with Thai exports to Bhutan valued at 457 million baht, while Thailand imported goods worth 3.47 million baht.
