The Ministry of Ayush wrapped up the Third BIMSTEC Conference on Traditional Medicine Knowledge, Genetic Resources and Intellectual Property Rights in Goa, bringing together all seven member nations of the South Asian grouping. The conference also included the Second BIMSTEC Nodal Group Meeting, where countries agreed on a shared approach to traditional medicine across the region.
What was discussed and agreed
During the two-day event, delegates from BIMSTEC Member States identified four main areas for future cooperation:
- Institutional and policy cooperation among traditional medicine organisations
- Standards and trade related to traditional medicine products
- Documentation of traditional medicine knowledge and capacity building programmes
- Implementation mechanisms to carry forward these agreements
All seven Member States reached unanimous agreement to support one another in matters of intellectual property protection, genetic resources management, and safeguarding traditional medicine knowledge. The conference produced what officials are calling the “Goa Conclusions,” a framework intended to guide regional cooperation going forward.
The Ministry of Ayush hosted visits to the Ayurveda Institute and Integrated Approaches (AIIA) in Goa, where delegates observed modern research facilities and academic infrastructure. A tree plantation ceremony was also conducted to mark the nations’ shared commitment to biodiversity conservation and traditional medicine systems.
What this means for you
This agreement strengthens India’s hand in protecting its traditional medicine knowledge and medicinal plant varieties at the regional level, which can help prevent unauthorised use by other countries. For practitioners and researchers in Ayurveda, Siddha and other traditional systems, the framework may lead to better standards, clearer trade rules, and stronger intellectual property protections across South Asia. Students and institutions working in these fields may also benefit from increased capacity building and knowledge-sharing opportunities with counterpart organisations in neighbouring BIMSTEC nations.