KATHMANDU: The Secretary General of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Indra Mani Pandey, paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singha Durbar today.

Minister Rana informed that various aspects of regional cooperation were discussed during the meeting, including issues related to promoting socio-economic development and fostering a people-centric, vibrant region.

Who is BIMSTEC Secretary General Pandey Indra Mani Pandey?
Indra Mani Pandey assumed the position of Secretary General of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) on January 4, 2024, for a three-year term. He is the fourth Secretary General of BIMSTEC, succeeding H.E. Tenzin Lekphell of Bhutan.
A career diplomat from India, Pandey joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1990. Before assuming his current role as Secretary General of BIMSTEC, he served as India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva. He previously held the position of Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, overseeing the Disarmament and International Security Affairs Division.

In his 33-year diplomatic career, Pandey served as India’s Ambassador to Oman and held posts such as Deputy Ambassador to France and Consul General in Guangzhou, China. He also worked in Indian missions in Cairo, Damascus, Islamabad, Kabul, and Geneva.
In the Ministry of External Affairs, he handled assignments in divisions focusing on West Asia and North Africa, consular affairs, counter-terrorism, the Americas, and South Asia. Pandey attended the Foreign Service Programme at Oxford University in 1998-99 and completed the 49th Annual Course on National Security and Strategy at India’s National Defence College in 2009. Ambassador Pandey is married to Mrs. Sushma Pandey and they have a daughter, Devangi.