India’s Ministry of External Affairs is stepping up efforts to reinvigorate BIMSTEC, with a renewed focus on hard connectivity and regional infrastructure projects, according to sources familiar with the developments. The push is aimed at positioning the Bay of Bengal grouping as a more effective platform for regional cooperation amid ongoing geopolitical flux and limitations within SAARC.

At the center of this strategy is the long-delayed India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, which officials view as a critical artery for trade, mobility, and strategic outreach into Southeast Asia. Work is also being aligned with broader plans for multimodal transport corridors, port-led connectivity, and energy grid integration across member states.

Sources indicate that New Delhi is seeking to accelerate project execution timelines while enhancing coordination with partner countries, particularly Myanmar and Thailand, where delays have persisted due to political and logistical constraints. There is also a parallel emphasis on digital connectivity and capacity-building initiatives.

The renewed BIMSTEC focus reflects India’s broader Act East policy recalibration, with connectivity-led diplomacy emerging as a key lever to counterbalance regional uncertainties and deepen economic integration.