Bangla PM inaugurates BIMSTEC secretariat

The secretariat of BIMSTEC was inaugrated here today by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who said it is a hallmark of proud partnership of the seven-member states that also include India.
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), initiated to connect South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Terming the inauguration day as "historic" for Bangladesh and BIMSTEC, Hasina said the secretariat marks beginning of a new journey towards a greater and intense cooperation for this unique regional organisation that bridges South Asia and Southeast Asia.

"Let Bimstec secretariat become a hallmark of proud partnership of the seven-member states across the Bay of Bengal," she added.
"Our economic achievements will mean something if we can handle this challenge," said Hasina.
BIMSTEC, formed in June 1997 in Bangkok, covers 13 priority sectors, including counter terrorism and transitional crimes, trade and investment, transport and communications and poverty alleviation.

The prime minister urged for more BIMSTEC initiatives in agriculture.
"Most of the people in this region are still dependent of farming. Apart from ensuring food security, agriculture is one of the main employers," she was quoted as saying by the bd24news.

She also called for implementing the recommendations made by the 'BIMSTEC Transport Infrastructure and Logistics Study Report'.
In January 2011, the members decided to set up the permanent secretariat, and Dhaka was finalised as the location at the 3rd Bimstec Summit in Myanmar in March.