Message from

H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa,

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand,

on the occasion of BIMSTEC Day, 6 June 2024

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It is my great honour to convey my warm greetings and congratulations to all BIMSTEC Member States on the occasion of BIMSTEC Day, 6 June 2024.

Over the past 27 years, BIMSTEC has emerged as the foundation of regional development in the Bay of Bengal. BIMSTEC is on the right track to becoming a prominent and an effective global player. The recently reconstituted seven sectors of cooperation have been instrumental and a driving force for BIMSTEC, as it paved way to a more efficient work process that is country-driven and country-led.

In the effort to drive BIMSTEC towards a more policy-driven cooperation, Thailand hosted the inaugural BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in July 2023. The Retreat, aimed to foster greater policy space and political will among Ministers, led to a number of ensuing discussion topics, including regional resilience, financial cooperation, and strengthening BIMSTEC as an institution among others. Recognizing its value, Ministers also made it a practice to meet every year on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

With our focus on enhancing institutional capabilities, it is timely that the Eminent Persons’ Group on the Future Directions of BIMSTEC (EPG) is established this year. Their collective wisdom holds tremendous potential as BIMSTEC refines its operational framework. Thailand is committed to the EPG process and will render all the needed support to the EPG and its chair, trusting in their ability to produce valuable and actionable recommendations that can bring about real changes to BIMSTEC.

Thailand is well-prepared to host the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit this year. Serving as the culmination of our Chairmanship, the Summit will adopt a number of significant outcomes, most prominently, the Bangkok Vision 2030 and the Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation. These milestones will lay a foundation for effective cooperation, guiding our region towards a future that is prosperous, resilient, and open for the benefit of our peoples.

Maris Sangiampongsa

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand