Jaishankar to address inaugural session of Global Technology Summit today

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will address the inaugural session of the ninth edition of the Global Technology Summit (GTS) -- India's flagship dialogue on geo-technology -- that begins here on Thursday.

The GTS, co-hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Carnegie India, will be held from April 10-12.

The inaugural session of the summit would begin with an address by Jaishankar, according to a statement issued by the MEA.

According to the programme agenda of the summit, the EAM will take part in the event on Friday which will be followed by a number of sessions.

These sessions are themed on topics such as -- 'Can Politics Meet Opportunity: The Future of Technology Partnerships', 'AI: A Reality Check', 'Sambhavna': The State of Geopolitics of Technology', 'Tech Bridges: India-EU Tech Cooperation' and 'Demystifying Deepseek: The Future of AI'.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is scheduled to speak at the event on April 12, according to the schedule.

"Convening leaders from government, industry, academia and civil society, the summit aims to shape global technology policy conversations with a focus on innovation, resilience and international cooperation," said the statement issued on Wednesday night.

The theme for this year's summit is 'Sambhavna', meaning possibility, and will explore how emerging technologies can drive inclusive growth, strengthen digital governance and deepen cross-border partnerships, it said.

Over three days, GTS-2025 will feature more than 40 public sessions, including keynote addresses, ministerial conversations, expert panels and strategic conversations.

More than 150 speakers from over 40 countries, including the US, the UK, Japan, Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Brazil, the UAE, Nigeria, the Philippines, and the European Union -- will join discussions on the "most pressing tech challenges and opportunities facing the world today", the statement said.

Sessions will span a wide range of critical topics -- from AI governance, digital public infrastructure and data protection, to cybersecurity, space security and emerging tech collaboration across the Global South.

The event will also amplify the voices of the next generation. Through the GTS Young Ambassadors Programme, students and young professionals from across India will contribute directly to policy conversations on digital futures, responsible AI and global tech norms, the statement said.

The inaugural Global Technology Summit in 2016 had explored global technology trends, their impact on job creation, and lessons for India to balance innovation with regulation. Key themes included digital innovation, automation, and India's role in an interconnected world.