Bhutan's regional groupings: SAARC, BIMSTEC and the Colombo Plan

Country Focus Institution Polity & Governance

Bhutan's regional groupings: SAARC, BIMSTEC and the Colombo Plan

Background

SAARC was established on 8 December 1985 with the adoption of its Charter in Dhaka by the Heads of State or Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Afghanistan joined SAARC in April 2007 as the eighth member; the SAARC Secretariat is in Kathmandu.
Bhutan hosted the 16th SAARC Summit in Thimphu in 2010.
BIMSTEC was created by the Bangkok Declaration of 1997; its current name was adopted in 2004 following Bhutan and Nepal's admission.
Bhutan joined the Colombo Plan in 1962.

SAARC established: 8 December 1985, Dhaka BIMSTEC founding declaration: Bangkok Declaration, 1997 Bhutan joined Colombo Plan: 1962

Why it matters for exams: Dates and places of regional groupings, and which neighbours belong to which, are recurring Country Focus and international-organisation questions.

Kerala PSCUPSC

7 October 2026 Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Bhutan (Regional Engagements)

In plain words

SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation — Regional body whose Charter was adopted in Dhaka in 1985.

BIMSTEC Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation — Seven-member group of five South Asian and two South-east Asian states.