A BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Expo and Conclave will be held in Kolkata next week, aiming at bringing together government officials, policymakers and business leaders from the member countries.
The three-day event starting on June 13 will be attended by over 400 trade and industry representatives from seven BIMSTEC member countries - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, according to an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) statement.
The conclave will also have a high-level session with over 140 speakers from the BIMSTEC region.
The event will focus on a range of issues, including trade facilitation, agri-food, infrastructure development, digital connectivity, sustainable tourism, advancement of healthcare, tea, gems and jewellery, climate change, startups, and fostering innovation.
The BIMSTEC is a regional organisation that was established in 1997. The region has a combined population of over 1.68 billion people and a GDP of around USD 2.88 trillion.
The programme is being held at a time when Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are facing economic headwinds.
The event will provide a platform for businesses to showcase their products and services, and to network with potential buyers and partners among the countries, the statement said.
It will also help promote cross-border collaboration and contribute to the growth of regional trade and investment.
The region has the potential to become a major economic powerhouse, but it needs to address a number of challenges, including trade barriers, infrastructure bottlenecks, and regulatory issues, the statement said.
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