BIMSTEC Charter (09.06.2023)
As the Member In-Charge of the Charter, Hon’ble Minister for Foreign Relations and External Trade introduced the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to the House today.
It was submitted that the Charter establishes clear provision on the legal and institutional framework for BIMSTEC, and outlines how BIMSTEC as an inter-governmental regional organization would function. As such, for a small country like Bhutan, such provisions are to our advantage as it provides clarity to the scope and functioning of BIMSTEC as an organization. He further reported that the ratification and enforcement of the Charter will also reaffirm and strengthen our status as a sovereign nation which is one of the objectives of Bhutan’s foreign policy and membership to regional or international organizations, in addition to achieving regional integration for boosting our trade and cooperation in other areas as well.
With the support of the House to deliberate on the Charter, it was referred to the Social and Cultural Committee for further review and to report back to the House on 12th June for Third Readings.
