The inaugural BIMSTEC Youth Summit concluded successfully on Tuesday in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, focusing on youth-led participation and regional cooperation across multiple sectors. Over 70 young leaders from BIMSTEC countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand—engaged in discussions on entrepreneurship, technology, digital connectivity, and sustainable development.
The event, themed “Youth as a Bridge for Exchanges within BIMSTEC,” was inaugurated by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, alongside Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs. Delegates explored the historic Sabarmati Ashram and toured Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), highlighting India’s advancements in finance and technology.
The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted that the summit aligned with India’s “Neighbourhood First” and “Act East” policies, as well as the SAGAR vision. “This initiative has strengthened the region’s shared heritage and enhanced cooperation,” they stated. In Guwahati, the summit’s outcomes were positively received by youth entrepreneurs and innovators. Local leaders emphasized the summit’s role in promoting digital innovation and cross-border collaboration, boosting Guwahati’s aspirations to become a key regional hub.