• Equal say for all 7 member states despite differences in size, political interests
• Plans underway to establish 10 new centres as institutional reforms gather pace
• SL pushes for greater regional cooperation on fiscal, monetary policies

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) will not distinguish between large and small member states, nor will any country be pressured into taking decisions against its interests, Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey told The Sunday Morning, emphasising that the regional grouping operated on the basis of equality and consensus. 

Pandey was in Colombo last week to attend the sixth Bay of Bengal Maritime Dialogue.   

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Pandey said that BIMSTEC remained focused on development and tangible regional cooperation, irrespective of political developments within or between its member states.

He said every member state had an equal role in setting the organisation’s agenda, proposing new areas of cooperation, and deciding on action plans.

“None of our member states should feel that they have to take any decision under pressure,” he said, citing the time taken by countries to ratify memoranda of understanding, conventions, and agreements, including free trade agreements.

Pandey acknowledged that the consensus-based approach could make decision-making slow and sometimes difficult. However, he said the process allowed each country to raise its concerns and ensure they were addressed before an agreement was reached.

“Outcomes may not come as quickly as we desire, but the process ensures that every country is comfortable with the outcome,” he said.

He cited the first BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting, held on 30 October, as an example of the equal platform provided to member states, with each minister given the opportunity to outline national priorities and make recommendations on the organisation’s future work.

Pandey said that BIMSTEC’s priority was to maintain its focus on practical cooperation and transnational security challenges, allowing progress to continue despite political differences among member states.

In addition, BIMSTEC is looking at establishing 10 additional Centres of Excellence across various sectors as part of efforts to strengthen its institutional capacity and accelerate regional cooperation, according to the Secretary General. 

Speaking to The Sunday Morning during an interview in Colombo, where he was attending the sixth Bay of Bengal Maritime Dialogue on Tuesday (3), Pandey said member states were committed to addressing long-standing institutional shortcomings that had slowed the organisation’s progress.

He acknowledged that BIMSTEC had not advanced as quickly as expected, prompting member states to establish an Eminent Persons’ Group in 2024 to examine institutional deficiencies and recommend reforms. He said the reforms recommended by the group were being implemented to accelerate regional cooperation. 

“The Eminent Persons’ Group made a set of recommendations and our member states were keen that, instead of debating those recommendations, we should move towards implementing them,” he said.

Pandey further stated that the sixth BIMSTEC Summit, held in April 2025, had given a clear direction to implement recommendations that could be adopted immediately, while further discussions would be undertaken on proposals requiring additional consideration.

“This signifies a clear commitment to addressing some of the institutional challenges we faced in the past,” he said.

Pointing to the organisation’s plans for expansion, Pandey said that BIMSTEC had only five functional centres covering different areas at present, but proposals were being considered to establish 10 more centres in various sectors.

He said the proposed expansion underscored the commitment of member states to strengthening cooperation across the organisation’s different areas of work.

Pandey also highlighted Sri Lanka’s role in expanding BIMSTEC’s cooperation agenda, particularly through a proposal to include fiscal and monetary policy issues.

He noted that Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister had proposed in 2023 that BIMSTEC should address fiscal and monetary policy matters in order to enable member states to learn from one another’s experiences.

After assuming office as Secretary General, Pandey said he had taken forward the initiative through the preparation of a concept paper, consultations with member states, and the process of obtaining their approval.

The proposal reflects an effort to broaden BIMSTEC’s cooperation beyond its existing development and security priorities, providing another platform for member states to exchange knowledge and experiences in economic policy.

Pandey expressed optimism that the institutional reforms and revitalisation process would enable BIMSTEC to achieve more substantial results in the coming years.

“I am very hopeful that with this kind of institutional reform and revitalisation underway, BIMSTEC will make more significant achievements in the future than it has in the past,” he said.