Kathmandu, July 30: The Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) on Wednesday organized a policy dialogue on “BIMSTEC at 30: Promoting, People-to-People Contact to Advance Regional Cooperation, Integration and Shared Prosperity”.
In his keynote address, Secretary General of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Indra Mani Pandey reflected on the organization’s achievements over the past three decades, ongoing institutional reforms and future priorities.
He highlighted the importance of enhancing people-to-people engagement, connectivity, trade and economic cooperation to realize BIMSTEC’s vision of a peaceful, prosperous and resilient Bay of Bengal region, the IFA stated in a press statement.
Pandey underscored Nepal’s growing contribution to advancing regional cooperation and addressing shared opportunities and challenges within the BIMSTEC framework.
On the occasion, IFA Executive Director Rojina Tamrakar emphasized the growing importance of BIMSTEC in promoting regional cooperation through stronger people-to-people connectivity and collaboration. She observed that deepening regional partnership is essential for advancing shared prosperity of peoples of the region.
Likewise, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kiran Shakya reviewed BIMSTEC’s evolution, achievements and challenges in regional integration. He stressed the importance of strengthening people-to-people contact, connectivity and mutual understanding among member states.
The IFA stated that Shakya reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to supporting BIMSTEC’s transformation into a people-centered regional community.
Ambassador of Thailand to Nepal Donnawit Poolsawat and Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Nepal Ruwanthi Delpitiya also attended the event. Diplomats from other BIMSTEC member states based in Kathmandu, officials from the relevant ministries, academics, policy experts, representatives of think tanks and development partners, researchers and university students were present at the event, according to the IFA.
