A high-level security arrangement has been made for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit scheduled for August 30 and 31.
The Ministry of Home has strengthened the security system by creating separate security strategies targeting the special guests of the conference. According to the Home Ministry, all kind of security preparations has been completed for the conference.
Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police and a team from National Investigation Department will escort VIP’s and VVIP from Tribhuvan International Airport to the hotel and between the summit venue and other destinations
Deputy Inspector General of Police Manoj Neupane informed, “Separate security measures have been adopted for VVIP guest”.
The security arrangements have been planned for guests attending the summit according to the VVIP Security Procedure, 2070 BS, informed the Home Ministry.
Targeting the BIMSTEC conference, the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the concerned body to adopt cyber security as a special alertness.
According to the sources, other telecom companies, including Nepal Telecom, Ncell, have also been called to form a strong firewall.
Similarly, the home ministry is coordinating with the service provider for the protection of government websites. “Special work for the Ministry of External Affairs is being carried out,” source said.
Heads of State or the Government of member nations including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand are taking part in the summit.
About BIMSTEC
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is an international organization of seven nations of South Asia and South East Asia, housing 1.5 billion people and having a combined gross domestic product of $2.5 trillion (2014). The BIMSTEC member states—Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, and Nepal—are among the countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal.
Objectives
The 14 main objective of BIMSTEC is technological and economic cooperation among south Asian and southeast Asian countries along the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Commerce, Investment, Technology, Tourism, Human Resource Development, Agriculture, Fisheries, Transport and Communication, Textiles, Leather etc. have been included in it. Provide cooperation to one another for the provision of training and research facilities in educational vocational and technical fields. Promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in economic, social, technical and scientific fields of common interest.
BIMSTEC priority sectors
14 priority areas have been identified with the lead nations appointed to lead the effort:
| Priority Area | Lead Country | Centre | Comments |
| Transport and communication | India | ||
| Tourism | India | BIMSTEC Information Centre, Delhi | |
| Counterterrorism and transnational crime | India | Four subgroups: Intelligence sharing – Sri Lanka (lead), Terror financing – Thailand, Legal – Myanmar, Law enforcement and narcotics – Myanmar |
|
| Environment and disaster management | India | Tsunami Warning Centre, Noida | |
| Energy | Myanmar | BIMSTEC Energy Centre, Bengaluru | BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection MoU signed in 2014. |
| Public Health | Thailand | BIMSTEC Network of Traditional Medicine in India | |
| Agriculture | Myanmar | ||
| Trade & Investment | Bangladesh | ||
| Technology | Sri Lanka | ||
| Fisheries | Thailand | ||
| Poverty Alleviation | Nepal | ||
| People-to-People Contact | Thailand | ||
| Climate Change | Bangladesh | ||
| Cultural Cooperation | Bhutan | 1200 ITEC scholarships by India |