| Why in the news? | India signed a Host Country Agreement with BIMSTEC to establish the BIMSTEC Energy Centre in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on November 11, 2024. |
| Signatories | MEA Secretary (East) Jaideep Mazumder and BIMSTEC Secretary General Indramani Pandey |
| Objective | To enhance energy cooperation among BIMSTEC member states and promote inter-grid connectivity across the Bay of Bengal region for energy security and sustainable development |
| India's Strategic Vision | - Emphasis on maritime and digital connectivity in BIMSTEC- Establishing Centres of Excellence in health, food security, trade, energy, and investment- Focus on skill development, capacity building, and people-to-people connections |
| BIMSTEC Overview | (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) |
| Establishment | Formed on June 6, 1997, through the Bangkok Declaration |
| Founding Members | Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand |
| Expanded Membership | Nepal became an observer in 1998 and a full member, along with Bhutan, in 2004 |
| Current Members | Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan |
| Permanent Secretariat | Located in Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Aim | To counter globalization impacts by accelerating regional growth through cooperation, leveraging regional resources, and optimizing geographical advantages |
| Areas of Cooperation | 14 priority areas, including Trade, Technology, Energy, Transport, Tourism, Fisheries, and Climate Change (added in 2008). India leads in Transport & Communication, Tourism, Environment & Disaster Management, and Counter-Terrorism & Transnational Crime. |
