The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to host the fourth Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting and Senior Officials’ Meeting in Sri Lanka on March 17 and 18, 2027.
The BIMSTEC comprises seven member countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
BIMSTEC aims to promote economic cooperation among countries surrounding the Bay of Bengal, with agriculture identified as a key area of cooperation due to its importance to the economies of member states.
The government said agriculture and related sectors play a vital role in ensuring sustainable development and regional food security, leading to their inclusion in BIMSTEC’s areas of cooperation.
The BIMSTEC Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting and Senior Officials’ Meeting are held once every two years, and Sri Lanka has been selected to host the fourth meeting.
Accordingly, the Cabinet approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to hold the meetings in Sri Lanka in March 2027.
