Professor Gertrud Tauchhammer, owner of Diplomatic SOCIETY Magazine, together with the Ambassadors and Representatives of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) countries – H.E. Toufique Hasan (Bangladesh), H.E. Shambhu Santha Kumaran (India), Chargé d’Affaires Aung Ko Min (Myanmar), H.E. Dayani Mendis (Sri Lanka), and H.E. Pattarat Hongtong (Thailand) – invited guests to a festive reception held under the theme “Tasting the Bay: Heritage and Harmony in Every Bite” in the Quadrille ballroom of the Eurostars Grand Hotel Wien.
Following the welcome words by the evening’s moderator, Ambassador ret. Dr. Klaus Wölfer, Diplomatic SOCIETY Publisher Mag. Gertrud Tauchhammer addressed the international guests and also commemorated the victims of the devastating flash floods in Nepal, which is likewise a member of BIMSTEC.
In their subsequent speeches, the Ambassadors and Representatives of Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand emphasized the importance of BIMSTEC, a regional organization founded in 1997, which today represents around 1.8 billion people.
Mag. Christoph Meyenburg, Deputy Chief of the Protocol Department of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, once again highlighted the outstanding strategic and economic importance of BIMSTEC. He also expressed his appreciation for the work of Diplomatic SOCIETY Magazine, which contributes to raising awareness of the regional organization in Austria.
Following the speeches, the buffet was opened in keeping with the evening’s theme, “Tasting the Bay – Heritage and Harmony in Every Bite,” offering a selection of traditional culinary specialties from the participating countries.
Another highlight of the evening was the impressive series of performances by artists from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand, showcasing the rich cultural diversity and heritage of the BIMSTEC region.
