● The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional multilateral organisation.

● Its members lie in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal constituting a contiguous regional unity.

● Out of the 7 members,

Five are from South Asia –

● Bangladesh

● Bhutan

● India

● Nepal

● Sri Lanka

Two are from Southeast Asia –

● Myanmar

● Thailand

● BIMSTEC not only connects South and Southeast Asia, but also theecologies of the Great Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal.

● It mainly aims to create an enabling environment for rapid economic development; accelerate social progress; and promote collaboration on matters of common interest in the region.