Bangladesh: Senior diplomat of India Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey assumed the position of Secretary General (SG) of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) on 4th of January 2024.
He is the 4th Secretary General of BIMSTEC and will remain its SG for a period of three years. He has succeeded Tenzin Lekphell of Bhutan.
Taking the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Pandey wrote:
"Friends, today I assumed the charge of Secretary General of BIMSTEC, Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. This Regional Organisation located in Dhaka comprises: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand."
On his arrival in Dhaka earlier today (January 4), SG, Ambassador Pandey, was warmly received by Abdul Motaleb Sarker, Director General (SAARC & BIMSTEC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh and Directors of BIMSTEC Secretariat. While speaking to Directors and other members of BIMSTEC Secretariat, the new SG reiterated the commitment of the Secretariat, under his stewardship, to work earnestly and with a new vigour to translate into reality the grand vision of BIMSTEC member States for expanding and deepening the growing cooperation amongst the BIMSTEC member States, within the framework of seven pillars of collaboration agreed by BIMSTEC Leaders.
He also thanked the member States of BIMSTEC for entrusting him with the responsibility of SG and sought their continued support and guidance to the Secretariat, enabling it to meet their expectations. He also thanked his predecessors for their distinguished contribution as SGs.
"A career diplomat, Ambassador Pandey joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1990. Prior to taking over as SG, Amb Pandey served as the Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva", BIMSTEC Secretariat said in its press release on January 4.
"Earlier he served as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs of India in-charge of the Disarmament & International Security Affairs Division; Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman; Deputy Ambassador of India to France; Consul General of India at Guangzhou in China; and in various capacities at Indian Missions abroad and at the Ministry of External Affairs of India in New Delhi", BIMSTEC Secretariat also said.
Ambassador Pandey is joined in Dhaka by his wife, Mrs Sushma Pandey. They are blessed with a daughter.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi has been appointed as India's next Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) and other International Organisations in Geneva on 16th of October, 2023. Mr. Bagchi replaced Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey in Geneva.
Mr. Pandey joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1990. Ambassador Pandey served as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs in-charge of the Disarmament & International Security Affairs Division before joining as the Ambassador & Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva in September 2020.
Earlier, Ambassador Pandey had served as Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman. Before Muscat, he had served as Deputy Ambassador of India to France and Consul General of India at Guangzhou (China).
Previously in New Delhi, Ambassador Pandey has handled assignments in the West Asia North Africa Division; Consular, Passport and Visa Division; Counter Terrorism Cell; Americas Division; Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Myanmar (BSM) Division.
