PM Modi expresses India’s full support to Thailand for the upcoming BIMSTEC Summit in September
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reaffirmed India's commitment to a peaceful, prosperous, resilient and safe BIMSTEC region and highlighted the need for strengthening regional cooperation. 
 
Interacting with Foreign Ministers from the BIMSTEC Member States who paid a joint call on him on Friday (July 12, 2024), he stressed on the role of BIMSTEC as an engine for economic and social growth, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. The ministers were in New Delhi to attend the 2nd BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat held on Thursday (July 11, 2024).

"He reaffirmed India's commitment to a peaceful, prosperous, resilient and safe BIMSTEC region and highlighted its significance to India’s Neighbourhood First and Look East Policies as well as in its SAGAR vision for Security and Growth for All in the Region," the PMO stated. 
 
"Glad to meet BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers. Discussed ways to strengthen regional cooperation, including connectivity, energy, trade, health, agriculture, science, security and people-to-people exchanges. Conveyed full support to Thailand for a successful Summit. @BimstecInDhaka," Prime Minister Modi said on X, formerly Twitter. 

According to an official statement on the meeting, PM Modi had fruitful discussions with the group of Ministers on further strengthening the regional cooperation in diverse areas including connectivity, energy, trade, health, agriculture, science, security and people to people exchanges. "He stressed on the role of BIMSTEC as an engine for economic and social growth," the PMO added. 
 
Prime Minister Modi also expressed India’s full support to Thailand for the upcoming BIMSTEC Summit to be held in September.

Speaking at the 2nd BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said there were longstanding goals such as capacity building and economic cooperation that have acquired a new urgency. "Global and regional developments also make it imperative that we find more solutions amongst ourselves," he noted.
 
"Our message should be clear – that we are all determined to infuse new energies, new resources and a new commitment into cooperation among the Bay of Bengal nations," EAM Jaishankar emphasised. 
 
The first edition of the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat was held in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 17, 2023.

BIMSTEC, or the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, was established on June 6, 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration. It has seven member states - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.