BIMSTEC, a huge market and destination for tourism: Foreign Minister Saud

KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs, NP Saud, has said BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) offers huge markets and destinations for tourism as well as trade and investment opportunities within the region and beyond. "Political determination with common understanding of the leaders keeps the hope high for peaceful, prosperous, resilient and sustainable Bay of Bengal. Transformation of the potential into reality, words into deeds and understanding into results are at the core of the regional spirit to move ahead for common prosperity and shared happiness," Minister Saud said extending best wishes to the governments and peoples of the BIMSTEC Member States today, the 26th Anniversary of BIMSTEC. BIMSTEC endows enormous potentials with abundant natural resources, rich cultural heritages, and shared civilisational norms and values, Foreign Minister Saud said, adding that this region provides a unique link between the South and South East Asia in bringing together about 1.6 billion people — 23% of the world population. "Adoption of the BIMSTEC Charter and reconstitution of the BIMSTEC areas of cooperation during the 5th summit held in March 2022, among others are the instrumental steps for strengthening the BIMSTEC process. In the decades-long journey of the regional process, we have adopted several documents, framed institutional mechanisms and developed common understandings for the cause of the BIMSTEC countries and their peoples. On this auspicious occasion, I feel honoured to recall the 19th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held on March 9, 2023, which endorsed several important instruments including the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030, Rules of Procedures for BIMSTEC Mechanisms, Terms of Reference for Eminent Persons’ Group for future direction and the more," Minister Saud mentioned in the message of best wishes. He underscored the need for effective implementations of the agreements and understating reached among the leaders during the various meetings for bringing a positive impact in the lives of the people of the region. Minister Saud expressed confidence that the BIMSTEC region will navigate towards the desired destination under the able chairmanship of the Kingdom of Thailand.