The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a unique sub-regional grouping of seven countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Being the bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia BIMSTEC attracts significant strategic and diplomatic attention in the recent years. Moreover, the grouping has consolidated its strength over two decades of existence in the 14 priority areas of regional cooperation. India attaches immense importance to BIMSTEC for deepening cooperation in the sub-region in trade, investment, connectivity and regional value chains.
RIS has been working on BIMSTEC cooperation since its inception. RIS is also a founder member of the BIMSTEC Network of Policy Think Tanks (BNPTT). RIS regularly brings out reports, discussion papers and policy briefs on various areas of cooperation within BIMSTEC, and organises seminars and conferences from time to time in collaboration with other think tanks from the member states.