The Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, is organizing the BIMSTEC Youth Summit from 7th to 11th February 2025 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya will formally inaugurate the event on 8th February 2025, marking the beginning of the BIMSTEC Youth Summit.

During the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu on 30^th -31^st August 2018, the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India announced the hosting of a three-day BIMSTEC Youth Summit, aimed at bringing together the youth of BIMSTEC nations on a unified platform to exchange experiences and insights on youth-led initiatives undertaken by member states.

The primary objective of the BIMSTEC Youth Summit is to facilitate the exchange of experiences and youth-led initiatives among member countries. Centered around the theme “Youth as a Bridge for Intra-BIMSTEC Exchange,” the summit seeks to harness the collective energy of young leaders to advance the region’s shared goals. The Government of India aims to channel this youthful energy towards achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The summit will provide an invaluable platform for dialogue on the progress and advancement of SDGs, bringing together 70 delegates from BIMSTEC nations. Each member country will be represented by 10 youth delegates, selected for their expertise in key areas, fostering targeted discussions that will contribute to meaningful outcomes from the summit.

The key objectives of the inaugural BIMSTEC Youth Summit are as follows:

a. To inspire young leaders from member countries to actively engage in addressing pressing global challenges, economic and social issues, and youth-related development agendas.

b. To foster a constructive exchange of perspectives on strategic issues that empower youth

c. To generate innovative ideas and solutions that contribute to creating a brighter and more sustainable future for the region and beyond.

A session on "Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue X BIMSTEC" will also be held, offering a platform for young leaders to showcase key youth development initiatives from their respective countries. Additionally, the summit will feature a session on Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), an initiative announced by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India. This initiative represents a comprehensive institutional mechanism powered by technology for youth development and youth-led progress. Mera Yuva Bharat aims to provide equitable access to opportunities for youth, helping them realize their aspirations and contribute to building an Amrit Bharat by 2047. The session will also demonstrate how the Government of India is utilizing technology to support youth welfare, offering valuable insights to delegates from other BIMSTEC nations.

The delegates will also have the opportunity to explore key cultural and modern landmarks. They will visit Dandi Kutir, India’s largest and only museum dedicated to the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, as well as Sabarmati Ashram, the former residence of Mahatma Gandhi and a center for promoting his principles of non-violence and self-reliance. They will also visit the Sabarmati Riverfront, and GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City), India’s first operational smart city and International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). GIFT City is designed to drive global financial services, technology, and innovation. The visit to GIFT City will offer youth delegates a firsthand experience of India’s aspirations to become a global financial and technology hub, showcasing cutting-edge smart city innovations and the dynamic landscape of global commerce. This experience will inspire delegates to shape the future of their own economies and communities.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising seven member states: India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan. BIMSTEC focuses on tackling shared challenges like climate change, poverty, and sustainable development, while strengthening political, security, and economic cooperation among the countries bordering the Bay of Bengal.

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Himanshu Pathak

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