BIMSTEC had initially identified six areas of cooperation, for which the respective ‘lead’ countries were designated: trade and investment (Bangladesh), technology (Sri Lanka), transport and communication (India), energy (Burma), tourism (India), and fisheries (Thailand). Among its most significant goals, BIMSTEC proposes to implement a free trade agreement (FTA) for trade in goods starting in July 2006, and an FTA accord on services and investment in July 2007.