Gandhinagar: Young delegates from BRICS countries visited the Statue of Unity at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, getting an insight into Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s role in India’s nation-building and the development of the tourism hub as part of the BRICS Youth Council Meeting and Youth Summit being held under India’s BRICS Chairship this year.
The delegates visited the 182-metre statue on August 20, a day after the two-day BRICS Youth Council Meeting and Youth Summit began in Gandhinagar.
The programme has brought together young representatives, innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers from BRICS member and partner countries to discuss youth cooperation and shared priorities.
At Ekta Nagar, the delegates were briefed on the life of Sardar Patel, his contribution to nation-building and his role in promoting the unity and integrity of India.
They also got an opportunity to learn about the country’s cultural diversity and heritage during the visit.
The delegation was given a presentation by the Chief Executive Officer of the Statue of Unity on the overall development of Ekta Nagar, the Statue of Unity project, tourism attractions developed in the area and facilities available for visitors.
The presentation also covered development initiatives and the tourism infrastructure created at Ekta Nagar.
The visit to the Statue of Unity was part of the broader BRICS youth engagement programme, which seeks to promote dialogue, exchange of ideas, mutual understanding and cooperation among young people from participating countries.
The summit in Gandhinagar has focused on areas including education and future preparedness, inclusive development, environmental responsibility and youth participation.
The BRICS Youth Council also discussed measures to strengthen institutional cooperation, including a draft joint statement and a framework for BRICS youth cooperation.
The proceedings are part of India’s BRICS Chairship agenda, with youth engagement being a key focus.
The visit gave the foreign delegates an opportunity to see first-hand the development and tourism infrastructure at Ekta Nagar while learning about the values associated with India’s unity, integrity and cultural diversity.
Additional Collector Gopal Bamniya, Deputy Collector Nirav Paritosh, District Youth Development Officer Dilip Desai and other officials accompanied the delegation during the visit.
(IANS)
