A BIMSTEC Exchange Program for Young Leaders was organized by MEA in association with Art Of Living in Bangalore, Karnataka and in Bhubaneswar, Odisha from 25-30 April 2026. Over seventy young leaders from all walks of life from seven BIMSTEC members countries participated in the week-long program.
2. The program was organized to implement the announcement by Prime Minister at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok last year, to promote youth exchanges across the Bay of Bengal region. The program focused on structured leadership development, exposure to regional issues and opportunities to co-create solutions. It provided the participants an applied-learning and innovation-focused setting, enabling them to learn, experiment and co-create in a holistic and practical way.
3. The initiative, taken by India in line with its strong commitment to strengthen sustainable regional cooperation in its neighborhood, 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.
New Delhi
May 01, 2026