Comparing BIMSTEC to SAARC is both inaccurate and detrimental to the interests of the Bay of Bengal regional grouping, stated BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey during an interaction with members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at the organization's Secretariat in Dhaka.
Emphasizing that draw-backs or parallels drawn between the two entities are "misleading and misplaced," Pandey noted that "the comparison between BIMSTEC and SAARC is misleading and misplaced and hurts the interests of BIMSTEC."
He underscored that regional collaboration remains an essential prerequisite for safeguarding progress and security throughout the Bay of Bengal area, adding that the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) has evolved into a vibrant, impactful forum for furthering the mutual goals of its member nations.
Furthermore, he highlighted that the bloc serves the fundamental security and economic interests of Bangladesh along with all other participating states.
Advocating for a fair assessment of the alliance, the Secretary General asserted that BIMSTEC deserves to be judged according to its distinct mandate, accomplishments, and future potential rather than through the lens of alternative regional bodies.
He stated, "BIMSTEC is a real and present opportunity, not a remote and hypothetical possibility," stressing that member countries must fully capitalize on the platform to deepen regional integration.
Pandey’s observations arrive at a crucial juncture as BIMSTEC works to fast-track decisions made by top leadership and bolster partnership across core domains, including trade, infrastructure, regional safety, environmental preservation, and cultural exchanges.
Bangladesh presently steers the organization as chair, having taken over leadership from Thailand during the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit convened in Bangkok in April 2025.
The Bangkok summit represented a pivotal moment in the bloc's development, as leaders endorsed the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030—a strategic framework targeting a "Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC" by the decade's end.
Additionally, participating nations finalized the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation to enhance sea connectivity, streamline the movement of cargo and travelers, and encourage deeper economic links.
In its capacity as chair, Bangladesh is focusing on transforming BIMSTEC into a results-driven, citizen-focused organization while accelerating progress in shared areas of interest.
Founded in 1997, BIMSTEC connects seven South and Southeast Asian nations—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand—encompassing a combined population of approximately 1.8 billion people.
Serving as a crucial link between the two regions, the alliance aims to spur economic development, social advancement, and mutual cooperation. In recent years, the group has fortified its organizational structure—most notably after adopting its formal charter—and streamlined its operations into seven main sectors, with each country leading a designated domain.
Under this arrangement, Bangladesh directs efforts in trade, investment, and development, while remaining partners oversee sectors such as security, transit links, climate change, agriculture, human contact, and technological innovation.
