The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand in cooperation with the Department of Political Science Chiang Mai University hosted the International Conference on “BIMSTEC Connectivity and People – to – People Contact” on 5th September 2012 at the Kantary Hotel Chiang Mai Province Thailand. The speakers included Mr. Hiroaki Yamaguchi from Asian Development Bank representatives from Embassies of BIMSTEC Member Countries in Thailand Chairman of the BIMSTEC Business Forum as well as from relevant line agencies of Thailand i.e. Ministry of Transport National Economic and Social Development Board as well as Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency.

The participants discussed and exchanged views on the development of connectivity and transportation infrastructure in BIMSTEC and on how to utilizing the potential of BIMSTEC Connectivity to promote business trade and investment tourism (cultural tourism) education and people – to – people contact. More than 150 people from the public and private sectors civil society and academic institutes attended the said BIMSTEC Conference. The conference which was one of Thailand’s initiatives under the “people – to – people contact” sector of cooperation achieved its objective in promoting better understanding of the people about BIMSTEC and BIMSTEC Connectivity as well as in enhancing people to people contact within BISMTEC.