New Delhi, April 1 -- April 1:India plays a dynamic and central role in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), acting as a key driver of regional integration and cooperation. Significantly, India is the largest and most influential member of the grouping. It has been instrumental in shaping BIMSTEC's agenda and promoting collaboration across various sectors.

The grouping, which connects South Asia and Southeast Asia, brings together seven member states - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka from South Asia, and Myanmar and Thailand from Southeast Asia.

These nations of the grouping together account for 1.7 billion people and a combined GDP of US$ 5 trillion. Through its ...