On 19 December 2024, Thailand, as Chair of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), hosted the 24th BIMSTEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) virtually. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Paisan Rupanichkij, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, with Ms. Rujikorn Saengchantr, Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs, attending as Thailand’s Senior Official.

Thailand proposed (1) the establishment of the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence in Tropical Medicine and Public Health; and (2) the establishment of the BIMSTEC Excellence Centre in Public Audit (BECPA). Thailand also informed the Meeting of its proposed schedule for the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in April 2025. In addition, the meeting reviewed several documents relating to external partners, including the Permanent Observer Status of BIMSTEC at the United Nations (UN) and cooperation between BIMSTEC and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).