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India Hosts BIMSTEC Youth Leadership Exchange for Regional Growth

India hosted a week-long BIMSTEC Youth Leadership Exchange Programme in Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar from April 25-30. Over 70 young leaders from seven BIMSTEC member countries participated in the initiative. The programme focused on leadership development, regional issues, and collaborative problem-solving. This initiative stems from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement at the sixth BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok last year.

Key Points: India Hosts BIMSTEC Youth Leadership Exchange Programme

  • India hosts BIMSTEC Youth Leadership Exchange Programme
  • Over 70 young leaders from 7 BIMSTEC countries participated
  • Programme focused on leadership development and regional issues
  • Initiative aligns with India's Neighbourhood First and Act East policies
2 min read

India hosts BIMSTEC Youth Leadership Exchange Programme

India hosts BIMSTEC Youth Leadership Exchange Programme in Bengaluru & Bhubaneswar, promoting regional cooperation and sustainable development.

"The programme was organised to implement the announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the sixth BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok last year, to promote youth exchanges across the Bay of Bengal region. - Ministry of External Affairs"

New Delhi, May 2

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation youth leadership exchange programme held by India highlighted the country's commitment to regional cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The BIMSTEC Exchange Program for Young Leaders was organised by MEA on Friday in association with Art of Living in Bangaluru (Karnataka) and in Bhubaneswar (Odisha) from April 25-30.

Over 70 young leaders from all walks of life from seven BIMSTEC member countries participated in the week-long programme.

"The programme was organised to implement the announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the sixth BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok last year, to promote youth exchanges across the Bay of Bengal region," the MEA added.

The Ministry highlighted that the programme focused on structured leadership development, exposure to regional issues and opportunities to co-create solutions.

The programme provided the participants with an applied-learning and innovation-focused setting, enabling them to learn, experiment and co-create in a holistic and practical way.

According to MEA, the initiative, taken by India in line with its strong commitment to strengthen sustainable regional cooperation in its neighbourhood, is expected to create a foundation for nurturing future-ready regional leaders, with an approach of integrating inner well-being with leadership, systems thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and community engagement.

India also held a BIMSTEC Young Leaders' Summit in September 2025.

The summit was part of the 21-point action plan introduced by Prime Minister Modi to further strengthen the group

The initiative, in line with India's Neighbourhood First, Act East and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) visions for regional cooperation, as per the Ministry, would prepare the "young leaders of the region to drive policies and development efforts, as well as to deal with the challenges of today and the future, for growth and prosperity in the region".

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
It's nice to see India investing in youth exchanges, but I hope there's more concrete follow-up than just feel-good workshops. "Systems thinking" and "collaborative problem-solving" sound great on paper—what about actual joint projects on climate resilience or trade facilitation among BIMSTEC nations? Let's see results.
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Priya S
😊 This is a wonderful initiative! The Neighbourhood First and Act East policies need people-to-people connections, not just government-level talks. Bringing together youth from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, and India in one room—that's how you build trust for decades. Kudos to MEA and Art of Living for the collaboration.
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Rajesh Q
Good move by the government, but I wish these programmes were less Delhi/Bangalore-centric. Why not host some sessions in smaller towns of the BIMSTEC countries? The real challenges and innovations are often in rural areas. Still, any step towards regional unity is better than nothing.
J
James A
As someone who works in international development, I have to say this is a smart long-term investment. India is positioning itself as the hub for regional leadership, especially as the Bay of Bengal becomes more strategic. The MAHASAGAR vision is ambitious—hope the execution matches the rhetoric. 70+ young leaders seems small, but could be transformative if nurtured.
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Naveen S
🙏 Excellent that PM Modi is following up on the Bangkok Summit commitments. The 21-point action plan must be implemented doggedly. But I hope the youth summit wasn't just a one-off photo op—we need a clear timeline for the next edition and tangible outcomes like an annual BIMST

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