Bay of Bengal Initiative for MultiSectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
Members • Observers
Membership		7 member states
Establishment		June 6, 1997

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for MultiSectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is an international organisation involving a group of countries in South Asia and South East Asia. Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar The member nations of this group are: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal. ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj The Kingdom of Bhutan (buːˈtɑːn is a Landlocked nation in South Asia. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia.

History

The organisation was formed in Bangkok, Thailand, on 6 June 1997. Bangkok, known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (krūŋtʰêːp máhǎːnákʰɔn) or Krung Thep ( for short is the Capital, largest The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Initially, its name was BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand Economic Cooperation). At that time, Myanmar was an observer, but later joined the organization as a full member at a special ministerial meeting held in Bangkok on 22 December 1997. Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Consequently, the name of the organisation was changed to BIMST-EC. Nepal was granted observer status by the second Ministerial Meeting in Dhaka, Bangladesh in December 1998. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Dhaka (also known as Dacca ( Bangla: ঢাকা ɖʱaka is the Capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka District. ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially Later, full membership has been granted to Nepal and Bhutan in 2003. The Kingdom of Bhutan (buːˈtɑːn is a Landlocked nation in South Asia. During the first summit in Bangkok on 31 July 2004, the organisation's name was changed to its current name. Events 30 BC - Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian 's forces but most of his army subsequently "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "

Plans and Activities

The seven nation countries have endorsed a plan for a free trade pact by 2017 -- while the three most advanced countries of the area (India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand) are committed to trade liberalization by 2012. See also List of free trade agreements This is article is on free international trade [1]

See also

• ASEAN
• SAARC
• Asia Cooperation Dialogue
• Mekong-Ganga Cooperation

External links

• BIMSTEC official site
• Articles related to BIMSTEC