The following is the text of the statement by Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh prior to his departure for the BIMST-EC Summit to be held in Bangkok:

“I leave today on an official visit to Bangkok to participate in the first BIMST-EC Summit being hosted by Thailand.

BIMST-EC, comprising Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan, is intended to strengthen regional cooperation among countries on the rim of or those seeking access to the Bay of Bengal.

BIMST-EC acts as a bridge of mutual understanding and cooperation between South and South East Asia. It is an integral part of India’s ‘Look East’ policy. The developmental imperatives of our North Eastern region are also an important element of our approach to BIMST-EC.

The main objectives of the Summit are to provide political direction and impetus to regional co-operation and to explore the possibility of moving forward on specific projects that would strengthen regional integration through better inter-connectivity amongst BIMST-EC countries, and to realise the full potential of co-operation in the fields of trade and investment, technology, transportation, communication, energy, tourism and fisheries. India hopes that the Summit discussions will be productive and result oriented. The objective is also to realize the common vision of shared prosperity and growth in our region.

I also look forward to a number of bilateral meetings in Bangkok, with Thailand, the host country, as well as Heads of State/Government of other participating countries, all close neighbours and friends of India, on the margins of the BIMST-EC Summit.”