NAY PYI TAW, MYANMAR: The Prime Minister of India Mammohan Singh on Tuesday categorically said that the secretariat of BIMSTEC in Dhaka would be an important milestone for regional development.

Manmohan Singh came up with the assertion while he was delivering his speech at BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) conference in Myanmar capital on Tuesday.

He also said setting up the secretariat in Bangladesh can play a vital role to get a better feedback and achieve the goal of the organization.

He also highlighted the importance and progress of BIMSTEC.

The BIMSTEC groups Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The neighboring countries are friendly and related with each other by nature for so long, he added.

He also mentioned that the linked land and water border among the countries have tied them as an indifferent one.

Manmohan Singh said that the BIMSTEC will surely play an important role in keeping peace, solidarity, security and setting up prosperity in the member countries as well as the world.

He emphasized both the physical and digital communications among the countries to increase the internal relationship.

Moreover, BIMSTEC can create many opportunities in trade, energy, tourism and other sectors, he added.

BDST: 1815 HRS, MAR 04, 2014