PM proposes to set up BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka

Diplomatic Correspondent, NAY PYI TAW, Mar 4: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has proposed to set up the BIMSTEC Permanent Secretariat in Dhaka.

Expressing her happiness she said: “I am confident that the BIMSTEC Permanent Secretariat in Dhaka will generate the momentum necessary for the implementation of all our decisions and the agreed agenda”.

The Prime Minister made the proposal while addressing the inaugural function of the third BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit at Myanmar International Conference Centre on Tuesday morning.

In her address, Sheikh Hasina called upon the BIMSTEC members to fulfill their pledge to build this region as a secure, stable and prosperous one.

She also called upon the BIMSTEC members to work with collective strength and capabilities with a view to utilizing combined natural endowments for beneficial economic integration and shared prosperity.

From BIMSTEC`s initial six areas of cooperation in 1998, Sheikh Hasina said: “It has expanded to fourteen, of which some are achieving notable progress, with others awaiting fresh impetus”. 

Reiterating her government’s total commitment to the BIMSTEC, the Bangladesh premier sought support in fulfilling its ‘Vision 2021’ of a middle income country.

She said this was a step to our journey to becoming ‘Sonar Bangla’ or ‘Golden Bangladesh’.

The third summit for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) begun on Tuesday morning at Nay Pyi Taw

 

Myanmar President Thein Sein welcomed the heads of the state and government of the seven countries.

 

In his speech, the Myanmar President underscored the need for collective efforts to achieve the aims and purposes of the forum to create an enabling environment for rapid economic development of the South and Southeast Asian region.

He said: “Faced with the new threats of non-traditional and transnational challenges of climate change, natural disaster, energy and food security, we have to combine our strengths and resources under the banner of BIMSTEC to engage with other international bodies in addressing these problems."

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Sihasak Phuangketkeow, permanent secretary and special envoy to the Thai prime minister, attended the session. 

After the opening session of the summit, two memorandums of association (MOAs) and one memorandum of understanding (MOU) were signed in presence of the heads of state and government from the BIMSTEC member states.

These instruments are: MOA on Establishment of the BIMSTEC Permanent Secretariat, MOA on the Establishment of a BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate and MOU on the Establishment of the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission (BCIC) and BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory (BCIO).

BIMSTEC includes Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal and aims to create cooperation in multiple sectors including trade, investment and energy.

 
The first BIMSTEC summit was held in Bangkok in 2004 and the second was held in New Delhi in 2008. The group plans to create a free trade area before 2018.

risingbd/mukul