Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin today (April 2) urged all BIMSTEC member countries to give their full support to finalize six key trade agreements without delay.

In his remarks at the 25th BIMSTEC Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) in Bangkok, he emphasized the importance of finalizing the Free Trade Area (FTA) for the collective economic progress of the region.

Jashim Uddin is leading a five-member delegation from Bangladesh at the meeting.

The six agreements pending finalization include: Goods under the Framework Agreement on the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area, Rules of Origin, Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters, Dispute Settlement Procedures, Trade Facilitation, Investment, and Trade in Services.

During the meeting, Jashim Uddin delivered a statement on ‘Trade, Investment, and Development, including the Blue Economy,’ for which Bangladesh is the lead country.

The 25th BIMSTEC SOM session is part of the preparatory events leading up to the 6th BIMSTEC Summit on April 4, 2025.

The meeting also addressed updates related to BIMSTEC Centres, including the BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate and the Centre of Excellence on Tropical Medicine.

Senior officials finalized the provisional agenda and draft reports for the 20th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting and the upcoming summit.

Bangladesh will host the 26th BIMSTEC SOM in Dhaka.

Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus is expected to attend the 6th BIMSTEC Summit of Heads of State and Government in Bangkok on Friday.

BDST: 1222 HRS, APR 02, 2025
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