Agriculture Minister Chouhan to attend BIMSTEC ministerial meeting at Kathmandu tomorrow

IANS April 8, 2025 405 views

Indian Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is set to participate in the 3rd BIMSTEC agriculture ministerial meeting in Kathmandu, signaling India's commitment to regional cooperation. During his visit, he will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Nepal and hold bilateral meetings with agriculture ministers from other member countries. The one-day event aims to enhance agricultural development and economic ties among BIMSTEC nations. This diplomatic engagement follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent proposals to strengthen economic integration within the Bay of Bengal region.

"We aim to expand the scope and capabilities of BIMSTEC" - PM Narendra Modi
New Delhi, April 8: Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan will participate in the 3rd BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) agriculture ministerial meeting at Kathmandu in Nepal on Wednesday, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.

Key Points

1

Chouhan to sign agriculture MoU with Nepal

2

Meeting BIMSTEC ministers from 7 member nations

3

Discuss regional agricultural development strategies

4

Explore economic integration initiatives

New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan will participate in the 3rd BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) agriculture ministerial meeting at Kathmandu in Nepal on Wednesday, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday. The one-day event will be attended by the Agriculture Ministers and senior agriculture officials of the BIMSTEC countries, including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. The discussions are expected to provide an opportunity for greater regional cooperation in the field of agricultural development.

The Indian minister will also call on Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli during his visit to Kathmandu.

Chouhan will hold a separate meeting with Nepal's Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ramnath Adhikari, during which a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed. between the two governments on cooperation in the field of agriculture.

In addition, Chouhan will hold a bilateral meeting with Bhutan's Agriculture and Livestock Minister Younten Phuntsho. The minister will also call on BIMSTEC Secretary General Indramani Pandey to discuss possible areas of cooperation between India and the BIMSTEC platform in the field of agriculture.

India is working for stronger economic ties between BIMSTEC nations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, at a meeting held in Bangkok, proposed linking India’s UPI with the payment systems of the BIMSTEC member nations in an initiative to strengthen trade, industry and tourism in the group.

Addressing the sixth summit of the 7-nation group, the Prime Minister also proposed to set up a BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce and explore promoting trade in local currencies within the region.

The BIMSTEC Summit adopted the Bangkok Vision 2030 to realise the shared commitment to prosperity, security, and inclusivity in the Bay of Bengal region.

PM Modi also stressed the need to continuously expand the scope and capabilities of the BIMSTEC grouping, welcoming the institutionalising of the Home Ministers Mechanism and offered to host its first meeting in India.

Reader Comments

R
Rajesh K.
This is a positive step for regional cooperation! Agriculture is so important for all our countries. Hope they discuss sustainable farming practices too 🌱
P
Priya M.
Interesting to see India taking leadership in BIMSTEC. The UPI integration proposal sounds promising for regional trade. But I hope farmers' actual needs aren't lost in these high-level meetings.
S
Sunil T.
As a farmer from Bihar, I'm curious what concrete benefits will trickle down to us. These meetings often sound good but implementation is slow. Still, better to have cooperation than isolation!
A
Anjali R.
The MoU with Nepal could be significant. Both countries share similar agricultural challenges. Maybe they'll collaborate on mountain farming techniques? 🤔
K
Kiran B.
While I appreciate the diplomatic efforts, I wish there was more transparency about the agenda. What specific agricultural issues will they address? Climate change adaptation should be priority #1.
D
Deepak S.
Good to see BIMSTEC gaining momentum! The Bangkok Vision 2030 sounds ambitious but necessary. Regional cooperation in agriculture could help stabilize food prices across borders.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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Tags:
BIMSTEC Shivraj Singh Chouhan Agricultural Diplomacy India Nepal Relations Bay of Bengal Cooperation
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