The First Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Technology which will henceforth be called the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Cooperation held its first meeting, hosted by Sri Lanka (as the Lead Country for STI), virtually, in Colombo, on 21 June 2023.

The Meeting was attended by representatives of all BIMSTEC Member States – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

The Meeting’s decisions included the finalisation of the Expert Group’s Terms of Reference, and the BIMSTEC Action Plan on STI (2023-2024) which includes timelines for steps for the entry into force of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF) and the convening of the first Meeting of its Governing Board.

• Opening and Welcome Remarks delivered by the Secretary to the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka, Mr. M.N. Ranasinghe:
• Special Remarks by the Secretary General of BISMTEC, Mr. Tenzin Lekphell: