Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic
Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
established - June 1997 aim - to foster socio-economic cooperation among members members - (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand
Benelux Union (Benelux)
note - acronym from Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg; was formerly known as Benelux Economic Union established - 3 February 1958; effective - 1 November 1960; changed names 17 June 2008 aim - to develop closer economic and legal cooperation and integration members - (3) Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands
Big Seven
note - membership is the same as the Group of 7 established - 1975 aim - to discuss and coordinate major economic policies members - (7) Big Six (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK) plus the US
Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone (BSEC)
established - 25 June 1992 aim - to enhance regional stability through economic cooperation members - (12) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine; note - Macedonia is in the process of joining observers - (17) Austria, Belarus, Black Sea Commission, Commission of the EC, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Energy Charter Secretariat, France, Germany, International Black Sea Club, Israel, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Tunisia, US; note - Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia have applied for observer status
C
Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom)