Home
+
Published : 02 Apr 2025, 02:51 PM
Bangladesh has sought cooperation from the member states of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to ensure that six key trade agreements are finalised in a timely manner.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin had urged the members to extend their cooperation in the 25th BIMSTEC Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) in Bangkok on Wednesday, according to the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
“Realisation of the FTA is paramount for our region's collective economic advancement,” he said.
Jashim Uddin is leading a five-member Bangladesh delegation at the SOM.
The six pending agreements are: Goods of the Framework Agreement on the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area, Rules of Origin, Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters, Dispute Settlement Procedures and Mechanisms, Trade Facilitation, Investment and Trade in Services.
The foreign secretary delivered a statement on “Trade, Investment and Development including Blue Economy”, which is led by Bangladesh.
The session formally set off the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, slated to convene on Apr 4 in Thailand’s Bangkok. Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus will join the conference.
A foreign minister-level meeting has been scheduled on Thursday before the conference.
The SOM reviewed the outcomes relating to BIMSTEC centres, including the BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate, and the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence on Tropical Medicine.
The officials discussed and finalised the draft provisional agenda and draft report of the 20th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting, to be held on Thursday.
In additional, the meeting finalised the draft provisional agenda and draft declaration of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit.
Dhaka will host the 26th Session of the SOM, the foreign ministry statement said.
