Context:
BIMSTEC acquires ‘legal personality’ after charter comes into force
BIMSTEC Charter:
- A foundational document that outlines the goals, principles, and structure of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation)
- Charter confers legal personality on the grouping
- This will also pave the way for external partnerships and admission of observers and new members.
BIMSTEC:
- An economic bloc that came into being in June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.
- Members – Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.
- Permanent Secretariat – Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Objective – Accelerating regional growth through mutual cooperation by utilising regional resources and geographical advantages.
- Areas of cooperation – 14 priority areas including Climate change, Trade, Technology, Energy, Transport, Tourism and Fisheries.
- Among these priority areas, a member country chooses which of the 14 priority areas it is willing to take lead.
- India is the lead country for Transport & Communication, Tourism, Environment & Disaster Management, Counter-Terrorism & Transnational Crime.
Source: Ministry of External Affairs
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements about G-20:
1. The G-20 group was originally established as a platform for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss international economic and financial issues.
2. Digital public infrastructure is one of India’s G-20 priorities.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c)
