BIMSTEC Ministers to meet in New De

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BIMSTEC ministers to meet in New Delhi

New Delhi, February 16, 2000
Mizzima News Group

Economic ministers of BIMSTEC forum are planning to meet in New Delhi in
the second half of April this year and Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister
and Commerce Minister Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi has agreed to
participate in the meeting.

Dr. Supachai who is already designated to succeed Mr. Mike Moore as
Chief of WTO confirmed his participation in the April meeting to the
visiting India's Commerce and Industry Minister Mr. Murasoli Maran in
Bangkok yesterday.

BIMSTEC (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Thailand
Economic Cooperation) was formally formed in May 1997 for the Bay of
Bengal Rim countries though India joined the forum in August 1997 and
Burma in December 1997.

BIMSTEC established a Senior Economic Officials Committee in its
previous meeting held in Bangkok in August 1998. The committee
comprising Secretary level officials of the member-states was entrusted
with the task of formulating the "BIMSTEC action agenda" for the 21st
Century.