On 12-13 May 2024, H.E. Mr. Soonthoorn Chaiyindeepum, Eminent Person from Thailand chaired the Third Meeting of the Eminent Persons’ Group on the Future Directions of BIMSTEC at the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka, Bangladesh to promote effective BIMSTEC cooperation and facilitate coordination.

The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation under BIMSTEC, such as the alignment of the recommendation on the future road map of BIMSTEC with the 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development Goals, and BIMSTEC Sectoral Cooperation; namely, Agriculture and Food Security Sector, People-to-People Contact Sector, and Connectivity Sector.

The Eminent Persons also held a meeting with the BIMSTEC Permanent Working Committee (BPWC), via video conference, to consolidate possible recommendations such as on facilitating the coordination of work plan between the BIMSTEC Secretariat and Member States. Ms. Rujikorn Saengchantr, Acting Director-General, Department of International Economic Affairs, participated in the meeting as the BPWC chair.

The Eminent Persons’ Group was formed as a result of the mandate given by BIMSTEC Leaders during the Goa Retreat in 2016 to strengthen BIMSTEC into an efficient and results-oriented organisation. The EPG will convene at least three more times to prepare and deliver an ambitious and result-oriented report to the Leaders at the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit that Thailand will host at the end of 2024. The report will provide key recommendations and strategic directions to guide the organisation's ongoing cooperation and development as well as ensure that BIMSTEC can realize the goals outlined in the Bangkok Vision 2030.