BIMSTEC’s Bangkok Vision 2030: Aspiration Amidst Adversity

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Amidst the geopolitical tensions shrouding South Asia, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) has had a breakthrough. Building on the legal mandate endowed by its adopted Charter in 2023, the organisation has undertaken an initiative to address long-standing criticism that it lacks a necessary action plan. For the first time in its twenty-eight-year existence, BIMSTEC, anchored in the Bay of Bengal and comprising overlapping memberships from South and Southeast Asia, has adopted a Vision statement outlining its priorities for the next five years. Unveiled at the Sixth Summit meeting of the grouping in March 2025, the “Bangkok Vision 2030” is framed around the theme “A Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC by 2030 for our people and future generations.”

For the first time in its twenty-eight-year existence, BIMSTEC, anchored in the Bay of Bengal and comprising overlapping memberships from South and Southeast Asia, has adopted a Vision statement outlining its priorities for the next five years.

The Vision essentially recategorises BIMSTEC’s seven comprehensive areas of cooperation under the three heads: ‘Prosperous’, ‘Resilient’, and ‘Open’ (abbreviated as ‘PRO’). BIMSTEC originally had thirteen sectors of cooperation, which were regrouped into seven sectors in 2023, to improve functionality. These are: (i) Trade, Investment and Development (ii) Environment and Climate Change (iii) Security — Sub-sectors: Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime; Disaster Management; Energy (iv) Agriculture and Food Security — Sub-sectors: Agriculture; Fisheries and Livestock (v) People-to-People Contact — Sub-sectors: Culture; Tourism; People-to-People Contact (vi) Science, Technology, and Innovation—Sub-sectors: Technology; Health; Human Resource Development (vii) Connectivity. This value-laden re-classification in the Vision document draws on the Bangkok Declaration of 1997, which serves as BIMSTEC’s foundational mandate to create an enabling environment for rapid economic development and social progress in the region through cooperation in common areas of interest.

The new categorisations can be broken down as follows:

Prosperous BIMSTEC

The vision for a ‘Prosperous BIMSTEC’ lies in economic integration and the principles of inclusive development. This pillar underscores the promise to tackle poverty, enhance intra-regional trade and investment, and narrow existing developmental disparities among member countries. Emphasis is placed on accelerating physical and energy connectivity through integrated port, maritime, land, and energy infrastructure. The rapid and effective implementation of the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity, adopted during the 5th Summit in 2022, is considered critical to these efforts. In parallel, member states are encouraged to expedite the finalisation of the long-pending BIMSTEC Motor Vehicle Agreement to facilitate seamless cross-border movement.

Special emphasis is placed on supporting the developmental needs of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and landlocked nations to ensure that the proposed BIMSTEC Free Trade Area remains inclusive and equitable.

While energy cooperation has been essential—particularly following the adoption of the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection initiative in 2018—the associated study progressed gradually. By 2024, a draft master plan for grid interconnection was shared with member countries, with the final version scheduled for release in the first half of 2025. At the same time, emerging sectors such as the digital economy, blue economy, mountain economy, and sustainable tourism are being positioned as future growth drivers. Special emphasis is placed on supporting the developmental needs of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and landlocked nations to ensure that the proposed BIMSTEC Free Trade Area remains inclusive and equitable.

Food and livelihood security also remain central, emphasising collaborative modernisation of agriculture, fisheries, and livestock using science, technology, and improved supply chains aimed at enhancing productivity and rural livelihoods.

Resilient BIMSTEC

The ‘Resilient BIMSTEC’ pillar underpins stability, preparedness, and institutional robustness. The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has made clear the imperative of developing resilient public health systems. BIMSTEC members are working toward a comprehensive regional health strategy complemented by increased cooperation in traditional medicine. Climate action is also prominently featured, with the establishment of institutions such as the BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate and the Energy Centre in India reflecting growing commitments to environmental sustainability and renewable energy adoption.

Regarding human security, the Vision identifies cybercrime, drug and human trafficking, and other transnational threats as key areas for deeper collaboration. Institutional mechanisms like the Home Ministers’ Meeting and Health Ministers’ Meeting have been introduced to formalise coordination and respond appropriately to these non-traditional security challenges.

Open BIMSTEC

The third pillar, ‘Open BIMSTEC,' aspires to build a shared regional identity grounded in inclusivity, dialogue, and people-to-people engagement. Cultural exchanges, youth and academic cooperation, and innovation form the bedrock of this approach. Tourism, particularly themed circuits such as Buddhism, Temple, and Eco-Tourism, is envisioned as a vehicle for cultural diplomacy and economic connectivity. The early launch of the Cultural Industries Observatory is anticipated to leverage the region's diverse heritage and soft power potential.

The third pillar, ‘Open BIMSTEC,' aspires to build a shared regional identity grounded in inclusivity, dialogue, and people-to-people engagement.

Educational cooperation, especially in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), along with support for youth entrepreneurship and creative industries, aims to foster a knowledge-based economy. Furthermore, BIMSTEC's effort to elevate its global visibility, through observer status in international forums such as the United Nations (UN) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), aligns with its aspiration to shape and respond to global discourses on climate change and sustainable development. The Open BIMSTEC framework is not solely about enhancing mobility across borders but creating a participatory, democratic, and globally connected regional architecture.

Strengthening Institutions

Despite BIMSTEC's ambitious roadmap for ‘PRO’, several areas still need strengthening for effective implementation. Foremost is the ambiguity surrounding institutional capacity and financing mechanisms. While flagship initiatives such as the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity and the Grid Interconnection Master Plan are promising, the absence of a dedicated development fund or a clear financing architecture raises serious concerns about their viability.

Secondly, political and security divergences among member countries are underplayed. Ongoing tensions and instability in Myanmar, along with unresolved bilateral issues such as the Rohingya crisis between Myanmar and Bangladesh, and the strain in ties between India and Bangladesh following regime change in the latter, pose significant risks to regional cohesion. However, the Vision fails to propose conflict-resolution frameworks or confidence-building measures to mitigate these tensions.

A more explicit articulation of partnerships with global institutions, funding agencies, and multilateral platforms is essential for enhancing credibility, securing resources, and moving beyond declaratory intent toward operational effectiveness.

Expanding the focus on human security to explicitly include women and children would enrich the Vision and ensure truly inclusive development. Gender-resaponsive policies and targeted interventions for vulnerable communities could help enhance social resilience.

Moreover, the emphasis on emerging sectors such as the digital and blue economies inadequately addresses structural inequalities—most notably the digital divide, environmental fragility, and regulatory mismatches. Lastly, BIMSTEC's external engagement strategy remains vague. A more explicit articulation of partnerships with global institutions, funding agencies, and multilateral platforms is essential for enhancing credibility, securing resources, and moving beyond declaratory intent toward operational effectiveness.

Shaping a Common Future in a Turbulent Neighbourhood

The Vision Statement is a landmark document that must now be operationalised through clearly outlined objectives. Alongside other administrative reforms adopted at the Sixth Summit—such as the ‘Adoption of Rules of Procedure for the BIMSTEC Mechanisms’, and the ‘Report of Eminent Persons Group on the Future Direction’—it ushers in a sense of regional unity. This is particularly necessary given the current geopolitical climate, with tensions escalating between India and Pakistan. The future of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) appears bleaker than ever. Following the failed 19th SAARC Summit in Pakistan in 2016, key member states—India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar—began pivoting eastwards, elevating BIMSTEC’s strategic relevance.

With the prospect of SAARC’s revival further relegated to the margins in the wake of renewed India-Pakistan strain—following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor in April 2025—reliance on BIMSTEC for regional cooperation has increased manifold.

The success of the Vision will ultimately depend on the establishment of effective follow-up mechanisms, sustained political commitment, and adaptive governance frameworks.

However, internal challenges persist. Relations between India and Bangladesh continue to deteriorate following the regime change in Dhaka last August, and Myanmar remains embroiled in a civil war. The convergence of political will across all member states is a necessary precondition for a regional organisation to function effectively.

It is therefore encouraging to note that despite their differences, the BIMSTEC member countries are pursuing institutional reforms to strengthen regional cooperation and have outlined a shared vision for the future. Still, the journey from paper to practice remains. The success of the Vision will ultimately depend on the establishment of effective follow-up mechanisms, sustained political commitment, and adaptive governance frameworks.

Sreeparna Banerjee is an Associate Fellow with the Strategic Studies Programme at the Observer Research Foundation.

Sohini Bose is an Associate Fellow with the Strategic Studies Programme at the Observer Research Foundation.

Anasua Basu Ray Chaudhury is a Senior Fellow with the Neighbourhood Initiative at the Observer Research Foundation.

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• East and Southeast Asia
• 6th BIMSTEC Summit
• bangkok vision 2030
• bimstec
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