BIMSTEC Turns 29 as PM Balendra Shah Pushes for a More Connected Bay of Bengal Region

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has marked BIMSTEC's 29th anniversary with a clear message: the Bay of Bengal region needs deeper connectivity, stronger cooperation, and more ambitious economic integration. In his anniversary message, Shah described BIMSTEC as a dynamic platform for regional cooperation that reflects the region's diversity and shared potential.

The Prime Minister said the organization can play a bigger role if member states continue building links across transport, trade, and digital networks. That vision points to a more integrated regional economy, where cross-border movement of goods, services, and data becomes a driver of growth rather than a barrier.

BIMSTEC, which brings together countries around the Bay of Bengal, has long been presented as a bridge between South and Southeast Asia. Shah's message reinforces that role, framing the bloc not just as a diplomatic forum but as a practical engine for shared development.

According to the Prime Minister's remarks, the region's strength lies in its diversity. The challenge now is turning that diversity into advantage through infrastructure, policy coordination, and digital readiness. That includes making it easier for businesses to connect across borders and for governments to cooperate on long-term regional goals.

The anniversary message also arrives at a time when regional blocs are under pressure to deliver tangible results. For BIMSTEC, that means showing progress in areas that citizens and businesses can actually feel, especially smoother logistics, expanded trade routes, and better digital connectivity.

Shah's emphasis suggests Nepal wants BIMSTEC to move beyond symbolism and into implementation. For a region with major demographic and economic weight, the opportunity is significant: stronger regional links could help unlock investment, improve market access, and support more resilient growth across the Bay of Bengal corridor.