Previous Year Question
Which of the following countries is/are NOT a member of the ‘Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Co-operation (BIMSTEC)’?
Thailand
Nepal
Bhutan
Indonesia
Select the correct answer from the code given below:
2 and 3
Only 3
1 and 4
Only 1
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
BIMSTEC currently has 7 member states—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Thailand is a member and was among the original countries that established the organisation in 1997.
Nepal and Bhutan are both members of BIMSTEC. Both countries joined the organisation in 2004.
Indonesia is not a member of BIMSTEC. Therefore, among the four countries given, Indonesia is the only country that is not part of the organisation.
BIMSTEC was established on 6 June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration. Initially, it comprised Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Myanmar joined in December 1997, and the later admission of Nepal and Bhutan brought the membership to seven.