India Hosts Second BIMSTEC Expert Group Meeting on Cyber Security Cooperation

The National Security Council Secretariat of India organized the second meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Cyber Security Cooperation on January 21, 2025, in New Delhi. This follows the first such meeting, also hosted by India in 2022.

The primary focus of this meeting was to develop a comprehensive Action Plan aimed at enhancing cyber security coordination among BIMSTEC member nations. The proposed Action Plan, to be implemented over the next five years, will address critical areas such as information exchange, tackling cybercrime, safeguarding critical information infrastructure, cyber incident response, and keeping pace with international developments in cyber norms.

Key discussions during the meeting included the establishment of a BIMSTEC CERT-to-CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) cooperation mechanism, a Cybercrime Cooperation Framework for law enforcement agencies, and capacity-building initiatives in cyber security across the region. Notably, India presented its initiative, the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), focusing on “Cyber Hygiene for School Children.”

The meeting underscored the importance of implementing the Action Plan to bolster regional cyber security collaboration. By fostering partnerships and sharing resources, BIMSTEC nations aim to create a secure and resilient cyberspace for their collective benefit.