India Hosts First-Ever BIMSTEC Youth Summit in Gandhinagar

India is set to host the first-ever Youth Summit under the BIMSTEC framework in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The event, jointly organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and the Ministry of External Affairs, has been established to provide a platform for young leaders across the BIMSTEC member countries to engage in dialogue on regional challenges and cooperative strategies.

The summit, themed "Youth as a Bridge for Intra-BIMSTEC Exchange," has attracted more than seventy delegates from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. These young leaders include a diverse group of participants such as government officials, parliamentarians, entrepreneurs, technology experts, cultural personalities, and civil society representatives, all focused on addressing regional issues.

Senior officials including Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Raksha Khadse, and Secretary (East) Jaideep Mazumdar inaugurated the event. Discussions during the three-day summit cover critical topics including digital connectivity, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and technological advancements, emphasizing the role of youth in driving regional progress.

The initiative aligns with India's regional cooperation policies like 'Neighborhood First,' 'Act East,' and the SAGAR vision, thereby reinforcing its commitment to building stronger ties across the region. The summit not only aims to spark creative dialogue among young leaders but also seeks to empower them to devise innovative solutions for economic and social development in the region.