ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Vibhav Kant Upadhyay named Boston Global Forum’s India representative
The Agra-born development strategist will lead Boston Global Forum’s collaborations in India and related global initiatives.
-
Pranavi Sharma - Thu, 30, Oct 2025
- 23:34 EDT
- 35
Vibhav Kant Upadhyay. / Boston Global Forum
The Boston Global Forum (BGF) has appointed Vibhav Kant Upadhyay, Chairman of the India Center Foundation in New Delhi, as its official Representative in India. The appointment took effect on Sept. 16, formalizing a new partnership between BGF and the India Center Foundation to advance shared global initiatives.
Governor Michael Dukakis, Co-founder and Chair of BGF, welcomed the decision and praised Upadhyay’s long record of leadership. “Mr. Upadhyay’s vision and leadership will help bring India’s voice and creativity into global dialogues on peace, governance, and innovation,” Dukakis said.
As the India representative, Upadhyay will work on advancing several BGF programs, including the AIWS Government 24/7, the Boston Finance Accord, and the Shinzo Abe Initiative. Through his leadership at the India Center Foundation, he has played a central role in building India’s strategic and developmental connections with the Indo-Pacific region.
Shinzo Abe film project
Shortly after his appointment, Upadhyay joined Yasuhide Nakayama, former Japanese State Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs, and Nguyen Anh Tuan, BGF Co-founder and Co-Chair, in Nha Trang, Vietnam, to advance work on The Shinzo Abe Film, a flagship project of the AIWS (AI World Society) Film Park.
The meetings, held on Sept. 16 and 17, brought together Vietnamese leaders and cultural representatives to discuss production plans for the film, which aims to honor the late Japanese Prime Minister’s legacy of peace, democracy, and Indo-Pacific cooperation. Filming began at the AIWS House Nha Trang and the Potique Hotel, marking the start of a cultural collaboration that ties innovation with diplomacy.
At a subsequent event in Phan Thiet, the HZ Group announced a sponsorship of USD 100,000 for the project. The film’s production team—comprising Upadhyay, Nakayama, and Tuan—described the project as part of BGF’s broader effort to continue Abe’s vision of a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Shinzo Abe with Vibhav Kant Upadhyay. / Boston Global ForumArchitect of ADM
Upadhyay, known for pioneering the Alternative Development Model (ADM), continues to promote a framework that shifts global development from “exploitation to empowerment”. In a recent statement published by the Global Alliance for Digital Governance, he argued that the world’s dominant growth model, based on extraction and inequality, must be replaced with one rooted in sustainability and inclusion.
“The true danger,” he wrote, “lies not in the past choices of developed nations but in others attempting to follow the same path.” ADM, as conceived by Upadhyay, focuses on three pillars—empowerment, equity, and sustainability—and offers mechanisms for creating resilient and ethical systems of growth.
The model aligns closely with BGF’s AI World Society (AIWS) initiative, which aims to ensure that emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence, serve democratic and humanitarian goals. Together, ADM and AIWS propose what Upadhyay calls a “new civilization model,” merging sustainable development with ethical innovation.
Upadhyay, who played a key role in initiating the India–Japan Global Partnership in 2000, continues to pursue collaborative frameworks linking India, Japan, and other global partners. His initiatives have contributed to projects such as the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor and multiple platforms promoting equitable growth.
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login