BIMSTEC

Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation BIMSTEC
Member states of BIMSTEC
Chair	Nepal (since 2014)
Member States	7 states : Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand
surface	4.9 million km²
population	1.6 billion
Population density	≈330 inhabitants per km²
founding	June 6, 1997
www.bimstec.org

BIMSTEC or Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (until July 2004 BIST-EC or Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand Economic Cooperation ) is a regional organization of the seven states located on the Gulf of Bengal .

The aim is to achieve closer cooperation between South Asia and Southeast Asia . The goal is a free trade zone for certain goods by 2017. Furthermore, mechanisms for peaceful conflict resolution are to be developed.

It was founded in June 1997 as BIST-EC.

Members

• Bangladesh
• Bhutan (since 2004)
• India
• Myanmar (since 1997)
• Nepal (since 2004)
• Sri Lanka
• Thailand

Web links

• BIMST-EC Thailand ( Memento from April 21, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
• BIMST-EC
• Contract text