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Dhaka Urges BIMSTEC Members to Finalize Trade Agreements
Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin today urged all BIMSTEC member states to expedite the finalization of six key trade agreements critical for regional economic growth. Speaking at the 25th BIMSTEC Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) in Bangkok, he emphasized the importance of realizing the Free Trade Area (FTA) for the collective advancement of the region.
“We must work together to finalize these agreements to drive our region's economic development,” Uddin said, as per a foreign ministry press release. He is leading a five-member Bangladesh delegation at the meeting.
The six pending agreements include the Framework Agreement on the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area for Goods, Rules of Origin, Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters, Dispute Settlement Procedures, Trade Facilitation, Investment, and Trade in Services.
During the meeting, Uddin also delivered a statement on 'Trade, Investment, and Development, including the Blue Economy,' for which Bangladesh is the lead country.
The 25th BIMSTEC SOM precedes the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, scheduled for April 4, 2025. The session covered discussions on BIMSTEC Centres, such as the BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate and the Centre of Excellence on Tropical Medicine. Senior officials also finalized the draft agenda and declaration for the upcoming Summit and Ministerial Meeting.
Bangladesh will host the 26th BIMSTEC Senior Officials' Meeting in Dhaka, with Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus set to attend the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok on Friday.