In a bold move to bolster regional cultural cooperation, Bhutan has inaugurated the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Office (BCIO) in its capital, Thimphu. This groundbreaking initiative marks a renewed commitment to cultural collaboration and development among the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member states, a pledge first voiced during the Paro Initiative in 2006.
The new office, now operational within the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development, is designed to serve as a cultural observatory. It will spearhead efforts to create a comprehensive BIMSTEC cultural database and support in-depth research on poverty alleviation and community development. The BCIO is also set to play a pivotal role in organizing cultural expositions and securing project-based funding to further nurture the cultural industries of the region.
BIMSTEC, an organization dedicated to enhancing economic cooperation, trade, connectivity, and security among its seven member nations, has seen a long-standing vision for cultural integration. This vision was formally articulated at the 3rd BIMSTEC Summit in Myanmar in 2014, when leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish both the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission (BCIC) and the BCIO.
Speaking at the ceremony marking the office’s launch, BIMSTEC Secretariat Sithu Aung stated, “With the establishment of BCIO, it can serve as a platform for the seven member states to enhance cooperation and collaboration to promote and preserve the culture of the BIMSTEC member states. It is also to get a wider public access across the region and beyond.”
Nagtsho Dorji, Director of the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development at Bhutan’s Ministry of Home Affairs, highlighted the years of preparation that led to the observatory’s establishment. “We have been preparing for this for over the past five years, and now, on behalf of the Royal Government of Bhutan, we have established the BIMSTEC Cultural Industry Observatory. We have invested in setting up all the necessary institutional infrastructure to ensure the observatory operates with immediate effect,” he remarked.
While the BCIO is initially managed by Bhutan’s culture department, BIMSTEC has indicated plans to appoint a dedicated director to oversee its operations in the near future. This step underscores the region’s commitment to not only celebrating its rich cultural heritage but also leveraging it as a catalyst for reducing poverty and fostering sustainable development.
As the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Office embarks on its mission, it stands as a symbol of Bhutan’s leadership in cultural diplomacy, promising to transform the regional cultural landscape and strengthen ties among the diverse nations of the BIMSTEC community.
