The BIMSTEC and issue of regional integration
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) that came into being on 6 June 1997, was joined by Nepal in 2004 as a member state. A sub-regional organisation with seven South and Southeast Asian countries, it has an aim to create an enabling environment for rapid economic development; to accelerate social progress; and to promote collaboration on matters of common interest in the Bay of Bengal. In 2004, the members decided to hold the Summit every two years as far as possible, and four Summits have been held — in 2004, 2008, 2014 and 2018 — s...