Thailand Joins BIMSTEC To Tackle Poverty

Thailand joins BIMSTEC members in promoting cultural related industries

Thailand will join six other member countries of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in promoting culture-related industries as a way to tackle poverty in the region.

Culture permanent-secretary Khunying Thipawadee Meksawan (ทิพาวดี เมฆสวรรค์) said the first meeting of BIMSTEC culture ministers in Bhutan also agreed to set up joint regional and national-level committees and increase cooperation in developing marketing strategies, protection of intellectual property and cultural capitals and cultural tourism which are part of the promotion of culture-related industries.

Khunying Thipawadee said that initially, a team of experts will be appointed to work out plans for the setting up of a regional committee and an operation centre in Bhutan. India will host the first meeting of the experts in July.

BIMSTEC has Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand as its members.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 June 2006