BIMSTEC meet on culture begins in Bhutan today

The inaugural session will take place at the newly-built hotel Zhiwaling in Paro.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Reaz Rahman left here for Bhutan yesterday to attend the meeting.

BIMSTEC members are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Nepal, however, is not attending this meeting of BIMSTEC, an economic cooperation body of the region.

The three-day meeting will discuss how the member countries could join their hands to enhance and preserve their rich cultural heritage.

How cultural cooperation could be utilised to reduce poverty and vitalise communities through the promotion of cultural industries in the region will also dominate the talks.

Official sources said BIMSTEC cultural collaboration could pave the way for income and employment generation.

BIMSTEC region represents one of the most diverse regions of the world be it in climate, race, culture, language or ethnicity.