As an emerging zone of convergence between South and Southeast Asia, the Bay of Bengal has gained strategic and economic prominence within the broader Indo-Pacific framework. At the heart of this regional cooperative architecture lies the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), which emphasises connectivity as a cardinal pillar to regional growth and development. Since its inception in 1997, BIMSTEC has identified ‘transport and communication’ as a key area of cooperation. At the 5th BIMSTEC Summit in March 2022, this sector was reorganised and renamed ‘connectivity’(1). Anchored in principles of equality, non-interference, and mutual benefit, the BIMSTEC Charter (adopted in March 2022) entrusts Thailand with leadership in advancing this sector.
Shared Aspirations, Diverse Priorities: BIMSTEC Perspectives on Connectivity
