New Delhi, Delhi, India | 15th August 2025: Youth-led innovation and leadership took center stage at the BRICS CCI Youth Leadership Dialogue 2.0, organized by the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BRICS CCI) from August 4 to 12, 2025. Held under the patronage of Mr. Sameep Shastri – Vice Chairman of BRICS CCI, President of its Young Leaders Vertical, and grandson of former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri – the seven-day leadership program focused on mobilizing the ideas, energy, and skills of India’s youth to address key national development priorities.
Aligned with International Youth Day 2025, the summit built on the success of its inaugural edition, reaffirming BRICS CCI’s mission to equip young Indians with the tools, confidence, and networks to lead on the global stage. With India set to become one of the world’s largest working-age populations in the coming decades, the event stressed the importance of youth engagement in policy-making, governance, entrepreneurship, and social transformation.
“Empowering young leaders is not just about imparting knowledge – it’s about giving them the confidence and networks to shape the global narrative,” said Mr. Sameep Shastri.
High-Profile Participation from Global & National Leaders
The dialogue featured an esteemed lineup from politics, diplomacy, governance, military, corporate leadership, and entrepreneurship:
- Defence & Strategic Leaders: Lt. Gen. D.V. Kalra (Retd.), Air Vice Marshal Rajeev Sharma (Retd.), Rear Admiral A.S. Sethi (Retd.).
- Diplomats: Mr. Mikhail Antsiferov (Russian Embassy), Ms. Leticia Marranghello (Embassy of Brazil), Mr. Peter Mahafha (South African High Commission), Amb. Amarendra Khatua, Mr. Zhang Yefei (Embassy of China), alongside senior Indian civil servants IPS Parvez Hayat, IPS Shashank Jaiswal, and IRS Sukhad Chaturvedi.
- Entrepreneurs & Industry Leaders: Mr. Bibin Babu (Paycio), Mr. Prann Sharma (Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan), Mr. Jitendra Sharma (Hairoriginals), Mr. Vikas Dua (Weber Shandwick), Mr. Ankit Jhamb (Grant Thornton Bharat LLP), and Mr. Anuj Gautam (Label-AG).
Keynote Addresses on the Final Day
Closing sessions featured addresses from senior leaders including Shri Rajesh Nagar (Government of Haryana), Dr. Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi (BJP National Executive), Dr. Madhukar Gupta (State Election Commission, Rajasthan), Dr. Dnyaneshwar Manohar Mulay (National Human Rights Commission), Mr. K.J. Alphons (Former Union Minister for Tourism), Air Marshal Ravi Kapoor (Retd.), Mr. Sushil Sharma (Marwari Catalyst), Mr. Anku Jain (MediaTek India), and Mr. Nishant Sama (BRICS CCI Young Leaders). A keynote was also delivered by Mr. He Meng, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.
Diplomatic representation came from Bolivia, Russia, Indonesia, South Africa, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, and other nations, fostering a truly global exchange of ideas.
Global Recognition for Young Leaders
Each participant received an internationally recognized merit certificate, symbolizing their readiness to contribute to India’s growth story and global leadership initiatives. The event successfully created a diverse cohort of young visionaries ready to drive innovation, policy reform, and socio-economic change on both national and international fronts.
