India Signs Agreement to Set Up BIMSTEC Energy Centre in Bengaluru.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has signed an agreement to establish the BIMSTEC Energy Centre in Bengaluru, Karnataka, as part of efforts to enhance regional energy cooperation. MEA Secretary (East) Jaideep Mazumder and BIMSTEC Secretary General Indramani Pandey formalized the agreement, which aims to strengthen energy ties and inter-grid connectivity across the Bay of Bengal region.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the MEA, stated that the Host Country Agreement will facilitate deeper energy collaboration among BIMSTEC nations, fostering connectivity and sustainability in the energy sector. “The agreement is a significant step towards bolstering inter-grid connectivity and energy cooperation across the BIMSTEC region,” Jaiswal shared in a post on X.

Earlier in the week, Pandey represented BIMSTEC at the second Raisina Down Under event in Canberra, Australia, where he emphasized BIMSTEC’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive development, especially in the Indo-Pacific.

In late September, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated India’s commitment to BIMSTEC, aligning with India’s Neighbourhood First, SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), and Act East policies. During a BIMSTEC foreign ministers’ meeting in New York, Jaishankar focused on enhancing regional connectivity in maritime, digital, and physical infrastructure, alongside cooperation in areas like health, food security, trade, and energy.

Founded on June 6, 1997, with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration, BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) works toward regional development and cooperation across seven South and Southeast Asian countries.

BS