BIMSTEC member countries Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal apart from India have discussed a draft pact to promote coastal trade and shipping, the government said Friday.
BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) countries met in New Delhi this week to discuss modalities for promoting coastal shipping in the region.
“In this first meeting of the Working Group on November 27 and 28, member countries discussed the draft text of BIMSTEC Coastal Shipping Agreement drafted by the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India,” the Ministry said in a statement.