GANDHINAGAR, GUJARAT | 08th JUNE 2026 | Hon’ble Education Minister of Gujarat Dr. Pradyuman Vaja and Member of Parliament Hemang Joshi attended the International Conference on “Strengthening BIMSTEC’s Role in Connectivity, Culture & Cooperation” at GIFT City, Gandhinagar, as Chief Guests.
The prestigious conference was organized by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, in collaboration with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU) under the leadership of Prof. (Dr.) Ami Upadhyay, Vice Chancellor, BAOU. The event brought together diplomats, policymakers, academicians, researchers, and delegates from BIMSTEC member nations to discuss regional cooperation, education, culture, innovation, and sustainable development.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Pradyuman Vaja emphasized the importance of education, youth empowerment, and international collaboration in strengthening relations among BIMSTEC nations. MP Hemang Joshi highlighted the role of cultural exchange, connectivity, and people-to-people engagement in building a more prosperous and connected region.
Vidit Sharma, Youth Ambassador, Government of Gujarat, participated in the conference and engaged with delegates on topics including youth leadership, mental health awareness, Artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social impact initiatives.
A special highlight of the conference was the address by Dr. Kamlesh Upadhyay, who emphasized the growing importance of mental health awareness among young people. He appreciated Vidit Sharma for leading the statewide “No to Drugs | No to Suicide” campaign and acknowledged his efforts in reaching more than 10 lakh students and youth across 37+ colleges and universities in Gujarat. He commended the initiative as one of the largest youth-led mental health awareness campaigns in the state.
The conference also reflected the vision of Prof. (Dr.) Ami Upadhyay, whose leadership at BAOU continues to promote meaningful dialogue, academic excellence, innovation, and international cooperation through such global platforms.
Speaking on the occasion, Vidit Sharma expressed his gratitude to Dr. Pradyuman Vaja, Hemang Joshi, Prof. (Dr.) Ami Upadhyay, and Dr. Kamlesh Upadhyay for their leadership and commitment towards empowering youth and strengthening regional cooperation. He noted that platforms like BIMSTEC create valuable opportunities for collaboration in education, technology, culture, mental health, and sustainable development.
The conference concluded with a collective commitment to deepen cooperation among BIMSTEC nations through education, innovation, research partnerships, cultural exchange, and youth engagement.
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