India hosts BIMSTEC Youth Leadership Exchange, 70 leaders from 7 nations
Synopsis
India brought together over 70 young leaders from all seven BIMSTEC nations in Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar, fulfilling PM Modi's pledge at the Bangkok summit. The programme signals India's intent to anchor Bay of Bengal diplomacy not just in trade and security, but in the next generation of regional policymakers.
Key Takeaways
MEA confirmed the BIMSTEC Exchange Programme for Young Leaders was held from 25–30 April 2025 across Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar .
Over 70 young leaders from all seven BIMSTEC member countries participated in the week-long programme.
The initiative fulfils a commitment made by PM Modi at the sixth BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok .
India also hosted a BIMSTEC Young Leaders' Summit in September 2025 , part of Modi's 21-point action plan for the grouping.
The programme aligns with India's Neighbourhood First , Act East , and MAHASAGAR foreign policy visions.
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on 2 May 2025 said the BIMSTEC Exchange Programme for Young Leaders underscored the country's commitment to regional cooperation across the Bay of Bengal region. The week-long programme brought together over 70 young leaders from all seven BIMSTEC member nations, marking a significant step in India's neighbourhood engagement strategy.
Programme Details and Locations
The exchange was jointly organised by the MEA in association with the Art of Living foundation, and was held across two cities — Bengaluru (Karnataka) and Bhubaneswar (Odisha) — from 25 to 30 April 2025. Participants came from diverse professional and social backgrounds, representing all seven member countries of the regional grouping.
The programme offered an applied-learning and innovation-focused environment, enabling young leaders to learn, experiment, and co-create solutions to shared regional challenges. According to the MEA, the curriculum centred on structured leadership development, exposure to regional issues, and collaborative problem-solving.
PM Modi's Bangkok Announcement Behind the Initiative
The programme was organised to implement a commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the sixth BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok last year, where he announced a push to promote youth exchanges across the Bay of Bengal region. This follows India's earlier hosting of a BIMSTEC Young Leaders' Summit in September 2025, which was part of the 21-point action plan introduced by Prime Minister Modi to further strengthen the grouping.
Strategic Alignment with India's Foreign Policy Visions
The MEA noted that the initiative aligns with India's Neighbourhood First, Act East, and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) visions for regional cooperation. The ministry stated the programme aims to create a foundation for nurturing future-ready regional leaders by integrating inner well-being with leadership, systems thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and community engagement.
According to the MEA, the initiative is expected to prepare the
Point of View
Declarations issued, and momentum stalls. What distinguishes this effort is the dual-city format and the Art of Living partnership, suggesting a deliberate push beyond government-to-government optics. If India follows through with alumni networks and policy-access pathways, MAHASAGAR could become more than an acronym.
NationPress
3 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BIMSTEC Exchange Programme for Young Leaders?
It is a week-long leadership development initiative organised by India's Ministry of External Affairs, held from 25 to 30 April 2025 in Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar. The programme brought together over 70 young leaders from all seven BIMSTEC member countries to collaborate on regional issues and co-create solutions.
Which countries participated in the BIMSTEC Youth Leadership Exchange?
All seven BIMSTEC member countries participated — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Over 70 young leaders from diverse professional backgrounds represented their respective nations.
Why did India organise this programme?
The programme was organised to fulfil a commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the sixth BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, where he announced a push for youth exchanges across the Bay of Bengal region. It is part of India's broader 21-point action plan to strengthen the BIMSTEC grouping.
What is the MAHASAGAR vision mentioned in relation to this programme?
MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. It is one of India's key foreign policy frameworks for regional cooperation, alongside the Neighbourhood First and Act East policies, under which this youth exchange initiative falls.
Has India held similar BIMSTEC youth initiatives before?
Yes. India hosted a BIMSTEC Young Leaders' Summit in September 2025, which was also part of Prime Minister Modi's 21-point action plan for the grouping. The April 2025 exchange programme is a continuation of that engagement.
