Consider the following statements in respect of BIMSTEC:

I. It is a regional organization consisting of seven member states until January 2025.  

II. It came into existence with the signing of the Dhaka Declaration, 1999.  

III. Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal are founding member States of BIMSTEC.  

IV. In BIMSTEC, the subsector of ‘tourism’ is being led by India.  

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?  

  • I and II    
  • II and III  
  • I and IV     
  • I only  

Answer: (d) I only  

  • The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising of 7 member states that are in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal, thus constituting a contiguous regional unity.
  • Formation: Formed in 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.
  • It was initially formed with 4 member states (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand). Myanmar became a member in 1997, followed by Nepal and Bhutan in 2004.
  • BIMSTEC has celebrated 20 years of its formation in 2017.
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