State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam announced that Bangladesh is ready to host BIMSTEC sectoral meetings during its chairmanship to facilitate the timely implementation of the regional bloc's decisions and priority initiatives. She made these remarks during a courtesy call by BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey at the foreign ministry.
Commitment to BIMSTEC Process
During the meeting, the state minister reaffirmed Bangladesh's continued commitment to the BIMSTEC process. She reiterated the government's resolve to further strengthen regional cooperation during Bangladesh's chairmanship of the grouping. This commitment aligns with the government's foreign policy priority of "Bangladesh First."
Enhancing Cooperation in Key Areas
Shama stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation in key areas, including trade and investment, connectivity, energy, climate change, and people-to-people contacts. These efforts aim to deliver tangible benefits for the peoples of the Bay of Bengal region.
Prospective Initiatives and Shared Vision
The state minister and the BIMSTEC Secretary General exchanged views on prospective initiatives to be undertaken during Bangladesh's tenure as chair. The goal is to further advance the BIMSTEC agenda and translate the shared vision of a "Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC" into concrete outcomes for the region.
Progress and Key Developments
Indra Mani Pandey briefed the state minister on the progress of ongoing activities and key developments under the BIMSTEC framework. He commended Bangladesh's leadership and constructive contributions to advancing the BIMSTEC agenda.
Deepening Regional Cooperation
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of Bangladesh and the BIMSTEC Secretariat to deepening regional cooperation and advancing the organisation's collective goals.
