Context:

The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is hosting the first-ever BIMSTEC Youth Summit in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 

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During the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu in 2018, the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India announced the hosting of a three-day BIMSTEC Youth Summit.

The summit is centered around the theme “Youth as a Bridge for Intra-BIMSTEC Exchange,” to harness the collective energy of young leaders to advance shared regional goals, particularly in achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

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

• To inspire young leaders from member countries to actively engage in addressing pressing global challenges, economic and social issues, and youth-related development agendas.
• To foster a constructive exchange of perspectives on strategic issues that empower youth.
• To generate innovative ideas and solutions that contribute to creating a brighter and more sustainable future for the region and beyond.

Special Sessions:

• Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue X BIMSTEC: A platform for young leaders to showcase key youth development initiatives from their respective countries. 
• Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat): To provide equitable access to opportunities for youth, helping them realize their aspirations and contribute to building an Amrit Bharat by 2047.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) 

• It is a regional organization that was established on 06 June 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.
• It aims to create an enabling environment for rapid economic development through the identification and implementation of specific cooperation projects in the already agreed areas of cooperation.
• Member states: Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Myanmar and Bhutan.