Background
Culture was identified and proposed as an area of cooperation among the BIMSTEC Member States at the First BIMSTEC Summit held on 31 July 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand. Recognizing the pluralistic nature of societies, shared cultural heritages and the rich diversity of languages, arts, crafts and traditions provide ample opportunity for multi-dimensional cooperation within Bay of Bengal region, the Eighth BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held on 18-19 December 2005 in Dhaka, Bangladesh decided to add ‘Culture’ as one of the sectors of BIMSTEC Cooperation.
The First BIMSTEC Culture Ministers’ Meeting held on 23-25 May 2006 in Paro, Bhutan adopted the Paro Initiative that called for the establishment of the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission (BCIC) and the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory (BCIO) to be located in Bhutan.
The leaders in the Second BIMSTEC Summit, held on 13 November 2008 in New Delhi, India, agreed to expand cooperation in culture to include cultural values, diversity, and heritage and decided to support the establishment of the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission (BCIC) and BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory in Bhutan (BCIO). Accordingly, the Member States signed the MoU on the Establishment of the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission and the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory during the Third BIMSTEC Summit held on 04 March 2014 in Nay Pyi Taw, Thailand.
The leaders, during the Fourth BIMSTEC Summit held on 30-31 August 2018 in Kathmandu, Nepal, emphasized the need to enhance cultural exchange among the Member States to further strengthen the historic cultural ties among peoples; promote mutual respect and tolerance for cultural diversity; underscore the importance of Buddhism as a connecting thread in the region; and remain committed to giving a clear manifestation to this by establishing a Buddhist Circuit. They also agreed to hold meetings of BIMSTEC Cultural Ministers and BIMSTEC Cultural Festival at regular intervals.
As decided during the Seventeenth BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held virtually on 01 April 2021 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, an Expert Group on Cultural Cooperation has been established with an objective to examine the scope to deliberate upon all issues to promote cultural values, heritages, diversity, and exchange in the region, including developing Plan of Cooperation and Action in Culture.
The First Meeting of BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission (BCIC) held virtually on 20 September 2021 in Thimphu, Bhutan, discussed, negotiated and finalized the draft text of the Procedures and Rules of BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission (BCIO).
Following the reconstitution of Sectors and Sub-sectors of BIMSTEC cooperation in 2022, Culture has been a Sub-sector under the People-to-People Contact Sector. The Nineteenth BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held in a virtual mode on 09 March 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand underscored the importance of cultural cooperation and exchanges among the Member States and their potentials to contribute in the promotion of cultural industries in the region. The Meeting also urged the Member States for early finalization of the Plan of Action. Earlier, Nepal has circulated a draft ‘Plan of Action on Culture’ in February 2023.
The Nineteenth BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting, held virtually on 09 March 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand, underscored the importance of cultural cooperation and exchanges among the Member States and their potential contribution to the promotion of cultural industries in the BIMSTEC region. The Meeting encouraged Member States to continue strengthening collaboration in cultural exchanges, creative industries, and cultural heritage preservation.
The Twentieth BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held on 03 April 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand underscored the importance of strengthening people-to-people connectivity across the BIMSTEC region. Ministers highlighted the role of cultural exchanges in fostering mutual understanding and solidarity among the peoples of the Member States and emphasized that enhanced interactions through cultural activities and community-level initiatives could further deepen regional ties and contribute to strengthening the shared identity of the BIMSTEC region.
At the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit leaders reiterated their commitment to foster cooperation in culture and emphasized the early operationalization of the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory as a repository for information on cultural industries. The Summit also recognized the importance of promoting people-to-people contact at various levels, including in the areas of youth entrepreneurship, digital connectivity, tourism, culture, youth and sports, and expressed commitment to enhancing the visibility of BIMSTEC through public awareness programmes, cultural events, sports, youth engagements and film festivals among the Member States.
Institutional Mechanism
i. BIMSTEC Culture Ministers’ Meeting
The BIMSTEC Culture Ministers’ Meeting is a policy Making body for Culture Sub-Sector which comprises the Ministers dealing with sectors of cultural values, heritage, diversity, tolerance, mutual respect of the Member States. Usually the Cultural Ministers' Meeting, preceded by Senior Officials Meeting on Culture and Expert Group Meeting on Cultural Cooperation, provides a platform for member states to collaborate on cultural issues and promote cultural exchange and understanding in the region. It has met only once in Paro, Bhutan on 23-25 May 2006.
ii. BIMSTEC Senior Officials’ Meeting on Culture
The Senior Officials’ Meeting comprises of the Secretaries/ appropriate Senior officials of BIMSTEC Member States dealing with cultural values, heritage, diversity, tolerance, mutual respect of the Member States.
iii. BIMSTEC Expert Group Meeting on Cultural Cooperation
Expert Group Meeting on Cultural Cooperation comprises of Senior Officials dealing with communication processes, coordination, monitoring and reviewing progress upon all issues to promote cultural values, heritages, diversity, and exchange in the region, including developing Plan of Action on Culture.
The first Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Culture was held along-side the first BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Culture preceded by the 1st BIMSTEC Senior Officials’ Meeting on Culture in Thimphu, Bhutan on 23-25 May 2006.
The Second Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Cultural Cooperation was held on 31 March 2024 in Lalitpur, Nepal. The Meeting discussed and finalised the Draft Plan of Action on Culture which outlines specific actions across five themes for the preservation and promotion of tangible and intangible cultural heritages of the member States in sustainable ways. The Meeting also finalised the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Expert Group on Cultural Cooperation for submission to the next BIMSTEC Senior Officials’ Meeting on Culture.
The Third Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Cultural Cooperation held on 24 April 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka discussed a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening regional cultural collaboration, including the promotion of cultural festivals, heritage exhibitions, academic exchanges, and other activities that would contribute to enhancing people-to-people connectivity in the BIMSTEC region.
The Fourth Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Cultural Cooperation held on 24-25 February 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand further reviewed the status of implementation of earlier decisions and deliberated on pending proposals and initiatives related to cultural cooperation. The Meeting also discussed matters related to strengthening the institutional framework for cultural cooperation within BIMSTEC and advancing the operationalization of the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission (BCIC) and the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory (BCIO).
iv. BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission
The BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission (BCIC) is the Commission of the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory (BCIO) comprising of one high-level representative nominated by each Member State. The Commission acts as Programme Planning body; oversee the programme of activities of the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory; and responsible to monitor and coordinate activities of the Observatory. It has met two times, in 2021 and 2024.
v. BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory
The First BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Culture held in Paro, Bhutan adopted the Paro Initiative that proposed the establishment of BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission (BCIC) and the BIMTEC Cultural Industries Observatory (BCIO) in Bhutan. Accordingly, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of BCIC and BCIO was signed during the Third BIMSTEC Summit, held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on 4 March 2014.
As per the MoU, a high level BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission was established as an oversight mechanism for the Observatory. The Commission held its first meeting virtually on 20 September 2021. The Meeting negotiated and finalized the draft text of the Procedures and Rules of BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission and recommended for its submission through BIMSTEC Permanent Working Committee (BPWC) to the BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Culture for approval.
The First Meeting of the Commission also recommended Bhutan to prepare a draft Organogram of BCIC including the Terms of References (ToR) for appointing Director, Professional and General Service Staffs as well as their emoluments and other administrative and financial matters. The draft Organogram and Terms of References received from Bhutan were circulated to the Member states on 07 August 2023.
As proposed by Bhutan, The BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory will be housed within the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development Building. The location has been selected as the initial headquarters for the observatory.
Following the deliberations of the Second Meeting of the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission held on 10 March 2025 in Thimpu, Bhutan, further progress has been made towards operationalizing the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory (BCIO) in Bhutan. The Commission finalized the draft Organogram and Terms of Reference for the Director, Professional and General Service Staff of the Observatory and provided recommendations for their finalization.
The Meeting also discussed the modalities for operationalizing the Observatory, including administrative arrangements, staffing structure, and coordination with the BIMSTEC Secretariat and Member States. These efforts aim to ensure that the Observatory functions as a regional knowledge hub for cultural industries, supporting research, data collection, policy development, and regional cooperation in the cultural sector across the BIMSTEC region.
Function of the Observatory
• Carry out directives received from the Commission, including those contained in the Paro Initiative.
• Establish a BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Database and update it on a continuous basis.
• Undertake research, statistical analysis of data and clearing house functions.
• Develop indicators for impact of the activities on poverty reduction and community vitalization.
• Create and maintain a web-portal on the Cultural Industries profile of the BIMSTEC Region.
• Support Member States in need assessment, as requested, and development of cultural industry plans and strategy.
• Prepare a consolidated calendar of major cultural industries expositions in BIMSTEC region.
• Network with relevant institutions/stakeholders working in the area of Cultural Industries.
• Undertake such activities, as may be assigned to it, by the Commission from time to time.
• Receive project based funding, as approved by the Commission.
Key Documents
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