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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

Thailand proposes creation of BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement
7-Apr-2025     Vietnam+
Thailand has proposed the creation of a BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement to enhance intra-regional trade, and strengthen the economies of countries in the regional group.
‘BIMSTEC among least integrated trade regions’: Bhutan calls for early conclusion of FTA
4-Apr-2025     The Print
Bhutan’s foreign minister highlighted the urgent need for an FTA at the 3rd BIMSTEC Dialogue in Bangkok, hours before Trump announced new US tariffs.
Dhaka urges BIMSTEC members to finalise trade agreements
3-Apr-2025     Risingbd
Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin urged all the BIMSTEC member states to extend their full cooperation to ensure timely finalization of six fundamental agreements on trade.
BIMSTEC Summit likely to adopt FTA and clinch maritime transport pact
24-Mar-2025     The Economic Times
The upcoming Bimstec summit in Bangkok, held from April 2-4, aims to establish a maritime transport agreement to enhance trade between India, Myanmar, and Thailand. The summit will also focus on finalizing the long-pending free trade agreement to boost intra-regional trade.
Dhaka calls for early implementation of the BIMSTEC FTA
20-Dec-2024     The Business Standard
Dhaka has called upon the BIMSTEC to expedite the process for finalizing the necessary instruments for early implementation of the Free Trade Agreement among the member states.
India urges regional bloc that includes Bangladesh to fast-track trade talks
7-Aug-2024     Live Mint
India’s commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal suggested that the seven-nation group work on a preferential trade agreement before eventually signing a free trade agreement.
BIMSTEC nears completion of Free Trade Agreement, says secretary general
27-Mar-2023     The Economic Times
Free Trade Agreement among the BIMSTEC countries is at the final stage of formulation, the secretary general Tenzin Lekphell said.