Background
The First BIMSTEC Summit held on 31 July 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand, discussed on the importance of establishing a dedicated forum to address the issue of poverty alleviation and agreed that a Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Alleviation be organized in Dhaka in early 2006.
During the Eighth BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held on 19 December 2005 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, it was decided to add ‘Poverty Alleviation’ to the list of BIMSTEC priority sectors. Subsequently, the Ninth BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting, held on 09 August 2006 in New Delhi, India, welcomed the offer of Nepal to be the Lead Country for Poverty Alleviation.
Bangladesh organized the First BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Alleviation on 09 July 2008 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. During the Meeting, the Leaders expressed concerns about the high incidence of poverty in the region and reiterated their commitment to poverty alleviation through cooperation among the BIMSTEC Member States. Nepal was given the task of preparing a draft Plan of Action on Poverty Alleviation.
The Draft Poverty Plan of Action (PPA) prepared by Nepal in consultation with the remaining Member States was adopted by the Second BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Alleviation held in Kathmandu, Nepal on 12 January 2012. The Meeting also directed the Member States to translate the PPA into actions to benefit people living in extreme poverty in the region.
The Sixteenth Senior Officials’ Meeting, held on 2 March 2014 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, encouraged the Member States to implement eight broad strategies of PoA including accelerated, pro-poor and inclusive growth; social development; implementation of targeted programs for poor; increased coverage for social protection; increased preparedness to address adverse impact of climate change; disaster management; good governance; and periodic progress. The Report of this SOM was endorsed by the BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held on 3 March 2014.
During, the Third BIMSTEC Summit held on 04 March 2014 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, the Leaders reiterated their commitment to alleviate poverty in the region to ensure dignity, improve the quality of life and well-being of the peoples; and agreed to implement the BIMSTEC Poverty Plan of Action while also welcoming the offer of Sri Lanka to host the Third Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Alleviation during the first half of 2014.
Following the BIMSTEC Leaders’ Retreat on 16 October 2016 in Goa, India, the Government of Nepal, in the Meeting of the Seventeenth Senior Officials held in Kathmandu in February 2017, offered to host the First Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Poverty Alleviation. Subsequently, the First BIMSTEC Expert Group Meeting on Poverty Alleviation was held on 01 November 2017 in Kathmandu, Nepal, which recommended integrating the PPA into the national plans and budgets of the Member States and agreed to convene annual meetings to share updates on collective actions outlined in the PPA, with India offering to host the next meeting in 2018.
The Third Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Alleviation was held, on 19-20 December 2017 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Meeting discussed common challenges and threats faced by the Member States in their efforts to eradicate poverty by 2030. The Ministers adopted the Colombo Statement on Poverty Alleviation for implementation by the Member States.
The Fourth BIMSTEC Summit held on 30-31 August 2018 in Kathmandu, Nepal, reiterated the commitment of BIMSTEC Leaders to eradicate poverty in the Bay of Bengal Region by 2030, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals. The Summit emphasized the need for effective implementation of the BIMSTEC Poverty Plan of Action and called for efforts from all sectors to contribute to the goal of poverty alleviation.
As a result, the Second Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Poverty Alleviation, held virtually on 12 November 2020 in New Delhi, India, suggested to update the Priority Areas mentioned in the PPA including the socio-economic indicators and also agreed to submit both country-wise and common Priority Sectors with respect to Poverty Alleviation in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.
Poverty Alleviation was initially excluded when the 5th BIMSTEC Summit held on 30 March 2022 in Colombo, Sri Lanka adopted the reconstituted sectors and sub-sectors of cooperation under the BIMSTEC Framework. However, the Sixth Meeting of BIMSTEC Permanent Working Committee (BPWC), held on 01-02 February 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand, discussed the need to continue the previously identified areas of cooperation not incorporated by the reconstituted sectors and sub-sectors. Consequently, the recommendation to include “Poverty Alleviation” under the “People-to-People Contact” sector, led by Nepal, was endorsed by the 23rd Session of BIMSTEC SOM held virtual on 08 March 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. The recommendation was subsequently approved by the 19th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held virtually on 09 March 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand and was welcomed by the leaders at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit held on 04 April 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Building on this renewed institutional foundation, cooperation entered a more structured and implementation-oriented phase. The 3rd Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Poverty Alleviation was held on 07–08 October 2024 in Dhulikhel, Nepal, where Member States refined the Draft Activity Matrix and updated socio-economic indicators. To further strengthen knowledge exchange, the BIMSTEC Secretariat, in collaboration with ADB and UNESCAP, organized the Knowledge-Sharing Workshop on Best Practices for Accelerated, Pro-Poor and Inclusive Growth from 24–26 June 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand, facilitating cross-regional learning and experience-sharing.
The Sixth BIMSTEC Summit held on 04 April 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand reaffirmed the commitment of the Leaders to building a Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC, including by welcoming the inclusion of Poverty Alleviation under the reconstituted sectors and sub-sectors of cooperation and urging the Lead Country to develop a Plan of Action for the sub-sector. The Leaders also adopted the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030, which emphasizes substantially reducing poverty and making considerable progress toward sustainable development and viable growth, including through the implementation of the BIMSTEC Poverty Plan of Action (PPA) and targeted programmes for poor households to improve resource accessibility, capacity development, job creation and fulfilment of basic human needs.
In line with these high-level policy directions, the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Poverty Alleviation continued its work to operationalize the Poverty Plan of Action and translate the Leaders’ commitments into concrete regional cooperation initiatives. The 4th Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Poverty Alleviation was convened on 09–10 October 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where Member States updated the Poverty Plan of Action, revised the Activity Matrix as a living and time-bound implementation tool, and finalized the Draft Terms of Reference of the Expert Group to further strengthen institutional coordination.
Institutional Mechanism
The First BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok on 31 July 2004 decided that a Ministerial Level Meeting on Poverty Alleviation, preceded by a Senior Officials’ Meeting on Poverty Alleviation should be held to discuss the issue of poverty alleviation in the BIMSTEC Region.
i. BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Alleviation
The Ministerial Meeting comprises the Ministers of the BIMSTEC Member States dealing with high incidence of poverty and poverty alleviation through cooperation in the BIMSTEC region.
ii. BIMSTEC Senior Officials’ Meeting on Poverty Alleviation
The Senior Officials’ Meeting comprises of the Secretaries/ appropriate Senior officials of BIMSTEC Member States dealing with high incidence of poverty and poverty alleviation through cooperation in the BIMSTEC region.
iii. BIMSTEC Expert Group Meeting on Poverty Alleviation
Expert Group Meeting on Cultural Cooperation comprises of Senior Officials dealing with communication processes, coordination, monitoring and reviewing progresses upon all issues to dealing with high incidence of poverty and poverty alleviation through cooperation in the BIMSTEC region, including developing Plan of Action regarding Poverty Alleviation.
Key Documents
1. Major Socio-Economic Indicators Of BIMSTEC Member States
2. Best Practices And Success Stories On Poverty Alleviation By The BIMSTEC Member States