H. E. Mr. SumithNakandala, Secretary General of BIMSTEC
Distinguished Heads of Missions and Representatives from the BIMSTEC Member States
Excellencies
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen,

AssalamuAlaikum, Adab and a very good evening to you all!

I am delighted to join you all this evening to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, BIMSTEC. On behalf of the People and the Government of Bangladesh and on my own personal behalf, I extend my warm greetings to the peoples of the BIMSTEC Member States. I also warmly welcome the representatives of the BIMSTEC Member States and other distinguished guests for joining us at the celebration of the happy occasion this evening.

Excellencies,

As a founding Member, Bangladesh has always been firmly committed to making the BIMSTEC process more dynamic and strengthening its institutional mechanism. Establishment of the BIMSTEC Secretariat in 2014 and hosting it in Dhaka is a testimony of Bangladesh’s commitment to strengthen the BIMSTEC process. We are proud to host the Secretariat of BIMSTEC in Bangladesh.

Since the inception of BIMSTEC, Bangladesh has been cooperating closely with the Member States on issues like liberalization and facilitation of trade, enhancing economic development, strengthening Energy cooperation, technology cooperation, increasing connectivity and people-to-people contact, combating terrorism and extremism to achieve collective security, dealing with the adverse effect of climate change, among others.

Distinguished Guests

Twenty years- for a regional organization is not a long time. The BIMSTEC region, covered partly by South Asia and partly by South East Asia, has enormous resources and potentials to fulfill the ‘aims and purposes’ of the Bangkok Declaration on the Establishment of BIMSTEC. Even then BIMSTEC has achieved some progress during the last 20 years. The countries of South Asia and South East Asian regions are the fastest growing ones in Asia. Over the years, we have seen remarkable economic advancement, social and technological progress.
In the BIMSTEC Leader’s Retreat and the BRICS- BIMSTEC Outreach Summit in Goa last year, BIMSTEC leaders have reiterated their commitment to intensify efforts to realize the objectives and purposes of BIMSTEC as outlined in the 1997 Bangkok Declaration, and pledged to work collectively towards making BIMSTEC stronger, more effective, and result oriented organization.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The role of the Secretary General of any regional organization is very crucial to coordinate agenda and implement the process of that organization. I take this opportunity to convey our thanks and appreciation to the first Secretary General Ambassador SumithNakandala for his efforts during the last three years. I also thank the members of the Secretariat for their contribution. The first Secretary General of BIMSTEC is about to conclude his term of office. The responsibility of the next Secretary General will be very crucial to move forward the evolving BIMSTEC process so that it gathers further momentum.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On this 20th Anniversary of BIMSTEC, I would urge upon all members and stakeholders to focus on undertaking more realistic and result-oriented and mutually beneficial projects. On this auspicious occasion, I take this opportunity to congratulate once again the peoples of all BIMSTEC Member States, the BIMSTEC Secretariat and other supporting mechanisms of BIMSTEC process. Let us renew our resolve to turn this regional organization into a more dynamic, result oriented and effective platform for our future progress and prosperity.

Long live the BIMSTEC spirit.

I thank you all.

Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu.