Mr. A.R. Subbiah, Director of RIMES, along with RIMES management, participated in the 5^th  Governing Board (GB) and Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting of the BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate (BCWC), held on 22–23 April 2026 in Thimphu, Bhutan. 

Hosted by Bhutan, the meeting served as an important regional platform under the BIMSTEC framework to review progress, address emerging challenges, and define strategic priorities for strengthening weather and climate services across member countries. Building on the outcomes of the previous Governing Board meeting, discussions focused on enhancing institutional coordination, advancing scientific collaboration, and strengthening the integration of climate information into policy and decision-making processes.

Key agenda items included the presentation of progress since the 4th Governing Board meeting, deliberations on the revised governance structure of BCWC, and strategic initiatives such as the establishment of meteorological observation networks across BIMSTEC Member States by March 2027. The meeting also discussed the expansion of the BIMSTEC PhD Fellowship Programme to strengthen regional scientific capacity, along with proposals for the development of agrometeorological advisory services to support climate-sensitive sectors, particularly agriculture. 

The Scientific Advisory Committee session complemented these discussions by providing a technical platform for member countries to present updates, exchange experiences, and contribute to the formulation of recommendations and action points. It also addressed upcoming training priorities and collaborative initiatives for 2026, reinforcing the importance of capacity development and knowledge sharing across the region.

RIMES’ participation highlights its continued role in supporting regional cooperation through technical expertise, operational services, and capacity building. Through such engagements, RIMES contributes to strengthening the end-to-end value chain, from observations and data to forecasts, climate services, and decision support systems, ultimately supporting more effective disaster risk management and climate resilience across the BIMSTEC region.