New Delhi, March 19, 2025 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Thailand from April 2 to 4, 2025, to participate in the sixth BIMSTEC Summit (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), which will be held in Bangkok. This will be Modi’s second official visit to Thailand, his last being in 2019 when he attended the ASEAN Summits, accompanied by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

BIMSTEC Summit 2025: Strengthening Regional Cooperation

The BIMSTEC Summit 2025 is scheduled to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from April 2 to 4, with Thailand holding the BIMSTEC Chairmanship for 2022-2025. The Summit aims to strengthen regional collaboration among the seven member countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand — representing South and Southeast Asia.

Under the leadership of Thailand, the focus of the Summit is on achieving a “Prosperous, Resilient, and Open” (PRO BIMSTEC) region by 2030, a vision that emphasizes economic growth, resilience, and openness among the member nations.

The key outcomes expected from the Summit include:

• BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030: A strategic roadmap to promote economic growth, regional stability, and sustainable development in the region.
• Report of the Eminent Persons' Group on Future Direction of BIMSTEC: A comprehensive assessment of the future trajectory of BIMSTEC and recommendations for enhancing cooperation.
• BIMSTEC Summit Declaration: A formal declaration outlining the commitments of member states to strengthen regional integration and people-to-people connectivity.

BIMSTEC’s Vision: Prosperity, Resilience, and Openness

According to Thailand’s Public Relations Department, “As chair of BIMSTEC during 2022-2025, Thailand is going to host the sixth BIMSTEC Summit and related meetings from April 2 to 4, 2025, in Bangkok.” The Summit will focus on adopting the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030, which aims to enhance cooperation across seven key priority areas, including:

• Security, including Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime
• Disaster Management and Energy Cooperation
• Trade and Economic Development
• Transport Connectivity and Infrastructure
• Agriculture and Food Security
• Science, Technology, and Innovation
• Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainable Development

India and Thailand: Strengthening Bilateral Relations

India and Thailand have enjoyed warm diplomatic relations since the establishment of formal ties in 1947. The two nations celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2022, underscoring their shared cultural and historical ties.

Thailand remains an important partner for India in the BIMSTEC framework, and both countries continue to collaborate on a wide range of issues, including:

• Maritime security and counter-terrorism efforts
• Economic and trade cooperation
• Cultural and people-to-people exchanges

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), BIMSTEC serves as a vehicle for regional engagement that promotes an open, peaceful, prosperous, and resilient Bay of Bengal region.

Key Objectives of PM Modi’s Visit to Thailand

Prime Minister Modi’s participation in the BIMSTEC Summit 2025 is expected to focus on:

• Promoting Regional Stability: Strengthening BIMSTEC’s role in addressing regional security challenges, including terrorism, human trafficking, and cyber threats.
• Enhancing Economic Cooperation: Exploring opportunities to boost intra-regional trade and investment, improve connectivity, and promote inclusive growth.
• Advancing People-to-People Connectivity: Deepening cultural ties through youth exchanges, academic partnerships, and technology transfer.

BIMSTEC as a Platform for Regional Collaboration

BIMSTEC has emerged as a critical platform for regional cooperation, fostering multi-sectoral engagement across its member states. The BIMSTEC region encompasses over 1.7 billion people and has a combined GDP of USD 4.7 trillion, making it a vital economic and strategic bloc for South and Southeast Asia.

The BIMSTEC Charter, which was adopted at the 5th BIMSTEC Summit held in Colombo in 2022, provided a legal and institutional framework to deepen integration and promote institutional capacity building.

Key Deliverables at the BIMSTEC Summit 2025

• Finalization of BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030: Setting the course for economic prosperity and resilience through inclusive growth and sustainable development.
• Adoption of the Eminent Persons' Group Report: Outlining a visionary framework for enhancing BIMSTEC’s effectiveness and expanding its areas of focus.
• Approval of the BIMSTEC Summit Declaration: Formalizing commitments from member states to strengthen institutional mechanisms, capacity building, and technical cooperation.

BIMSTEC’s Growing Significance for India

For India, BIMSTEC holds strategic and economic significance as it connects South Asia with Southeast Asia, contributing to Act East Policy objectives. India’s focus on maritime security, disaster management, and climate change aligns with BIMSTEC’s broader goals of fostering sustainable development and peace.

India has played a pivotal role in driving BIMSTEC’s agenda and has consistently advocated for:

• Increased Connectivity: Enhancing road, rail, and maritime links to facilitate seamless trade and people-to-people interactions.
• Capacity Building and Technical Cooperation: Promoting knowledge-sharing, technology transfer, and institutional development.
• Security Cooperation: Combating terrorism, human trafficking, and transnational crimes through joint initiatives.

Challenges and Opportunities for BIMSTEC

While BIMSTEC continues to make significant strides, challenges remain, including:

• Addressing Institutional Gaps: Strengthening the BIMSTEC Secretariat and ensuring timely implementation of decisions.
• Enhancing Intra-Regional Trade: Removing tariff and non-tariff barriers to facilitate smoother trade flows.
• Fostering Inclusive Growth: Ensuring that the benefits of regional cooperation are equitably distributed across member states.

Conclusion: India’s Role in Shaping the Future of BIMSTEC

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi gears up for the BIMSTEC Summit 2025 in Bangkok, India’s role in driving regional cooperation, economic growth, and security collaboration will remain pivotal. With BIMSTEC focusing on “Prosperity, Resilience, and Openness” (PRO BIMSTEC) by 2030, India is expected to play a leading role in shaping the future direction of the regional bloc.

The BIMSTEC Summit 2025 presents a unique opportunity to strengthen India-Thailand ties, deepen regional collaboration, and chart a path toward a more prosperous and resilient Bay of Bengal region. As BIMSTEC looks toward a transformative decade, India’s leadership and proactive engagement will be crucial in realizing its vision for 2030.

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