New Delhi, May 3 (ANI) — India hosted a week-long BIMSTEC Youth Leadership Exchange Programme from April 25 to 30, bringing together more than 70 emerging leaders from across the Bay of Bengal region to bolster regional ties through youth engagement and empowerment.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X that the programme was organised in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement to expand youth exchanges in the Bay of Bengal region. The MEA conducted the exchange in partnership with Art Of Living, holding activities in Bangalore and Bhubaneswar.
Participants from all seven BIMSTEC member states took part in sessions designed to develop “future-ready” leaders. The curriculum combined inner-wellbeing practices with leadership training, systems thinking, collaborative problem-solving and community engagement. The programme stressed structured development, exposure to regional challenges and opportunities for participants to co-create practical, innovation-focused solutions through applied learning.
The exchange was launched to implement commitments agreed at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok and complements wider efforts to deepen intra-BIMSTEC trade and investment. In March, the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka welcomed ASSOCHAM’s launch of a new chapter under India’s leadership of the BIMSTEC Business Council, a move aimed at strengthening business-to-business links among member countries.
The Business Council’s strategic agenda is built on three pillars — Trade Facilitation, Multi-modal Connectivity and MSME Cooperation — aligning with the BIMSTEC “Bangkok Vision 2030” objective of transforming the Bay of Bengal into a resilient, open and prosperous region. BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey highlighted Bangladesh’s role as lead member for the Trade, Investment and Development sector. Tribhuvan Darbari, Chair of BIMSTEC Business Council India, described the bloc as a potential USD 5 trillion opportunity and called for deeper trade integration, stronger supply chains and improved connectivity to realise that potential.
Alongside economic and leadership initiatives, the MEA has continued cultural and sustainability engagement. Following summit commitments, it organised the BIMSTEC Youth Heritage and Sustainability Immersion Programme from March 17 to 23 in Madhya Pradesh in partnership with Bharat Scouts and Guides. (ANI)
