Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Secretary General, H.E. Indra Mani Pandey, participated in the IUCN World Conservation Congress held from 9-15 October 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Considered as the world’s premier conservation event, the Congress brought together governments, scientists, development partners, Indigenous communities, and stakeholders worldwide to deliberate and commit to action on biodiversity, climate change, nature-based solutions and sustainable development.

The Secretary General addressed High-level Session on “Harnessing Rivers for Peace and Prosperity: Cooperative Approaches to Resource Governance”. He delivered opening remarks at “Glaciers for the Future: Global Partnership for Glacier and Post-Glacier Ecosystem Resilience,” and closing remarks at “The Freshwater Challenge: Accelerating Freshwater Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration.”

The Secretary General highlighted the challenges faced by BIMSTEC member States in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) amidst climate change, biodiversity loss and recurrent natural disasters. He outlined BIMSTEC’s progress in regional cooperation in environment, mountain economy, disaster management and energy sectors. He stressed the importance of partnerships with BIMSTEC to safeguard the ecosystems in Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal.

On the sidelines, the Secretary General held meetings with Ms. Grethel Aguilar, Director General of IUCN; Dr. Dindo Campilan, Regional Director, Asia and Oceania, IUCN; Mr. Henry Gonzalez, Chief Investment Officer of the Green Climate Fund (GCF); Mr. Lorenzo Santucci, Chief of Environment and Development Policy at UNESCAP; Ms. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of UNEP; Mr. Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Executive Secretary to United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF); Dr. Sandeep Sengupta, Global Policy Lead on Climate Change, IUCN; and Ms. Yoko Watanabe, Director (Environment), Asian Development Bank (ADB). The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in areas such as climate finance, biodiversity protection, resilience building, and regional adaptation strategies.

The Secretary General expressed BIMSTEC’s readiness to deepen collaboration with IUCN and other global institutions, reaffirming the organization’s role as a bridge between South and Southeast Asia to strengthen adaptation, resilience and sustainable development in the Bay of Bengal region.

***