Asia Pacific Summit 2024 Power of youth leadership, cultural exchange and global collaboration

The Asia Pacific Summit (APS) 2024, an annual conference organised by AIESEC, concluded with great success, bringing together potential leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region. Held from April 3 to 7 in Kathmandu, the summit emphasised its theme, ‘AIESEC is Exchange’, highlighting the significance of exchanges and exchange programmes in fostering global collaboration and leadership development.

The opening ceremony saw Yuga Thapa, Core Committee President, deliver the welcome speech. Speakers included MCP Satkar Raj Shrestha, AP OD Manager Vy Diep, and AIESEC Nepal Founding Member Samanata Thapa who emphasized the importance of collaboration and cultural exchange.

Delegates were treated to a captivating celebration of cultures on the second day, showcasing the diversity of the 19 entities present. This immersive experience fostered a deep appreciation for global diversity, empowering youth to become active global citizens committed to driving positive change. The Global Village event facilitated meaningful connections, inspiring dialogue and paving the way for impactful actions, promoting a more interconnected and harmonious world.

On April 4, AIESEC, in collaboration with Accenture, delivered the World’s Largest Lesson (WLL) to students of Global College in Kathmandu. The ‘Sustainability Hour’ lessons, conducted by 121 facilitators, reached 1,163 students aged 16-17. This initiative reinforced a strong commitment to the importance of sustainability in today’s world.

The third day featured the launch of Elevate + This is AIESEC, a platform designed to connect the youth of Nepal with the AIESEC network across the Asia-Pacific region. With 510 online registrations and 275 attendees, the event showcased volunteering, internship and teaching opportunities from 17 entities, fostering real-time exchanges and promoting global connections.

The summit culminated in a Gala Night on the fourth day, celebrating the achievements and contributions of AIESEC members, partners and supporters. This event served as a moment of reflection, celebration and inspiration, reinforcing AIESEC’s commitment to leadership development, cultural understanding, and global impact. It was a night filled with l a deep sense of camaraderie.

Throughout the summit, delegates participated in Lead Sessions and Capacity Development Sessions on crucial topics, including AIESEC Essence, Current Context of the Asia Pacific Region, Performance Management, Customer Flow Management, Product and Network Management, Synergy Management, Making Data-Driven Decisions, and Owning a Limitless Asia Pacific. These sessions, facilitated by 20 experts, aimed to enhance leadership skills and knowledge, contributing to the overall development of 118 delegates from 19 entities.

The meticulous preparation over four months and the collaboration with 14 partners ensured the summit’s success. The testimonial by the Country Director captured the essence of the event: “Asia Pacific Summit 2024 was an opportunity for us to bring Asia Pacific delegates to Nepal and Nepal to them. Bringing people from 19 different countries to Nepal and delivering the promise of Nepal to them was an amazing experience for me. The involvement and clarity shown by the Nepali delegates during and after the conference would be my highlight. I am hopeful for growth in impact and numbers for AIESEC in Nepal in the coming days. I am proud to have hosted APS in  Nepal.