India spotlighted the importance of youth in shaping regional growth as over 80 young leaders from BIMSTEC nations gathered in Guwahati earlier this month for a landmark summit.
The three-day BIMSTEC Young Leaders’ Summit, held from September 9 to 11 and inaugurated by Assam governor Laxman Prasad Acharya, was organised in association with Bharat Scouts and Guides. The Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday that the initiative was part of the 21-point action plan announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit.
Delegates from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand represented diverse spheres of public life—politics, business, culture and civil society. The summit placed emphasis on leadership for the 21st century, one that is resilient, inclusive and responsive to diversity.
Sessions on entrepreneurship, design thinking and cross-cultural collaboration encouraged participants to frame socially conscious and sustainable solutions to regional challenges. Cultural exchanges and country-sharing sessions deepened trust and mutual understanding among the attendees. According to MEA, the outcomes included enhanced communication and collaboration skills, innovative social business prototypes and, most importantly, networks of trust that will underpin future cooperation.
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The summit also spotlighted the significance of India’s North East as the land bridge for the socio-economic corridor connecting the Bay of Bengal region. Officials said the initiative ties in with India’s Neighbourhood First, Act East and MAHASAGAR visions for regional cooperation, preparing young leaders to drive policies and development while confronting future challenges.
The engagement builds on a series of cultural and developmental initiatives under the BIMSTEC framework. Only last month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar inaugurated the first-ever BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival in New Delhi. The event, titled Sapt-Sur, referring both to the seven musical notes and the seven-member grouping, was described by him as “a celebration of shared heritage and a powerful display of cultural unity.”
“An enriching evening of ‘Sapt-Sur’! Great to witness traditional music performances from BIMSTEC countries. A commitment made by PM Narendra Modi at the BIMSTEC summit this year, the music festival builds on our shared cultural traditions and living bridges,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.
The music festival, hosted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, showcased performances from artists across the seven member states, reflecting the depth of cultural bonds linking South and Southeast Asia.
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