India Extends Formal Invite to BIMSTEC Chair for September BRICS Outreach

The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi confirmed that Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarik Rahman, who currently chairs BIMSTEC, has been invited to sit in on the outreach segment of the 18th BRICS summit scheduled for September 2024. BIMSTEC, a coalition of seven nations surrounding the Bay of Bengal, includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand, representing roughly 22 percent of the global population and a combined economic output of about five trillion US dollars. The invitation, issued after Mr. Rahman assumed the premiership in February 2026, follows the customary practice of extending outreach invitations to leaders of regional bodies. Randhir Jaiswal, the ministry’s spokesperson, noted that the outreach meetings aim to broaden the dialogue beyond the core BRICS and involve regional stakeholders in discussions on trade, infrastructure, and environmental challenges. Similar invitations have been sent to other heads of regional organisations, underscoring India’s intent to deepen inter‑regional cooperation.