April 10, Colombo (LNW): The sixth edition of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit concluded in Bangkok on April 04, 2025, marking a significant moment for regional diplomacy and collaboration.
The event, held under the theme “Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC,” also included the 20th Ministerial Meeting and the 25th Senior Officials Meeting. Hosted by Thailand, the summit convened leaders and senior delegates from across South and Southeast Asia.
Sri Lanka’s delegation was led by Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, who was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra, as well as senior representatives from the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministries.
In her address, Prime Minister Amarasuriya extended her gratitude to the Thai government and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for their hospitality and the smooth conduct of the summit.
During her remarks, Dr Amarasuriya reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s dedication to fostering deeper regional ties, especially in the domains of science, technology, and innovation.
She highlighted the island nation’s role as the lead country in this sector, and expressed confidence in the forthcoming operationalisation of the BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Colombo. This initiative is anticipated to provide a platform for member states to collaborate on innovation-driven growth, capacity-building, and research partnerships.
Equally emphasised was the recently concluded Plan of Action on Human Resource Development. Dr Amarasuriya urged its swift rollout, noting the central role that skilled and adaptable workforces will play in steering the region through complex future challenges. According to her, human capital investment must remain a cornerstone of regional strategies for sustainable development.
The Prime Minister also drew attention to the untapped potential for intra-regional trade, transport linkages, and economic cooperation. She stressed the need for candid dialogue, cross-border knowledge exchange, and a commitment to dismantling outdated bottlenecks in connectivity.
Upgrading infrastructure—not only in terms of roads and ports but also in digital and energy domains—was cited as a necessary step to unlocking BIMSTEC’s full potential.
At the ministerial level, Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra represented Sri Lanka in the signing of the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Cooperation—an accord designed to facilitate enhanced maritime safety, resource sharing, and logistical collaboration amongst member nations.
Furthermore, additional memoranda of understanding were finalised with the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), signalling BIMSTEC’s intention to foster strategic ties beyond the Bay of Bengal.
The summit culminated in the adoption of several key frameworks and documents. These included the 6th BIMSTEC Declaration, the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030—a roadmap outlining long-term priorities and integration goals—and new rules of procedure for institutional mechanisms within the bloc.
Leaders also endorsed the Report of the Eminent Persons Group, a strategic blueprint to guide BIMSTEC’s evolution over the coming decade.
In a gesture of solidarity, the summit concluded with a joint statement expressing support for Myanmar and Thailand in the aftermath of the March 28 earthquake. The message reinforced the collective spirit of regional unity that underpinned the summit proceedings and affirmed the grouping’s readiness to stand together in moments of crisis.
