Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau
BIMSTEC Health Ministers to convene in Sri Lanka this November
Sri Lanka will host the inaugural meeting of BIMSTEC Health Ministers and senior health officials on November 10-11, marking a significant step in regional health cooperation. The gathering follows directives from the bloc's sixth summit held in Bangkok earlier this year.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is set to hold its first-ever assembly of health sector leadership in Sri Lanka this month, bringing together ministers and senior officials from member states across South and Southeast Asia.
The two-day meeting will provide a platform for health policy makers and administrators to discuss regional health priorities and coordinate responses to cross-border health challenges affecting the broader BIMSTEC region, which encompasses Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
BIMSTEC has positioned itself as a key mechanism for fostering socio-economic development and technological advancement among South and Southeast Asian nations. The health ministers' summit represents an expansion of the bloc's sectoral cooperation, moving beyond its traditional focus areas into the critical domain of public health and medical services.
The inaugural meeting was mandated following deliberations at BIMSTEC's sixth summit of state leaders, held in Bangkok, Thailand in April 2025. Officials are expected to establish frameworks for health collaboration, share best practices, and identify areas for joint technical cooperation among member nations.
Photo: The flag of BIMSTEC, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. Pur 0 0 via Wikimedia Commons (CC0).