Bangladeshi Delegates Join Global Leaders at World Bank Youth Summit-26
News Desk
15 June 2026, 11:06
WASHINGTON, DC — The 13th World Bank Group Youth Summit concluded on June 12 in Washington, bringing together thousands of young leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world to discuss the future of jobs in an increasingly digital economy.
Held under the theme “FutureWorks: Designing Jobs for the Digital Age,” the summit focused on three key areas: jobs, education and skills, and entrepreneurship. Discussions explored how countries can prepare young people for changing labor markets shaped by artificial intelligence, digital transformation and emerging technologies.
World Bank Group President Ajay Banga opened the event by highlighting the importance of quality job creation for economic growth and poverty reduction. Throughout the two-day summit, speakers emphasized a growing global challenge: an estimated 1.2 billion young people in emerging markets are expected to enter the workforce over the next decade, while significantly fewer jobs are projected to be created.
Against this backdrop, Bangladesh was represented by two young delegates, Tisha Khandokar and Md Toufiq Elahi, whose participation underscored the country’s growing role in global conversations on innovation, entrepreneurship and workforce development.
The two delegates took part in the summit’s Innovation Lab, where participants developed and presented solutions to development challenges before an international panel of policymakers, development experts and investors.
Khandokar presented “AgriCredit,” an AI-powered solution aimed at improving access to finance for young entrepreneurs in developing economies. The proposal seeks to address barriers that often prevent promising startups and small businesses from securing early-stage capital.
Elahi presented “From Skills to Jobs: TVET Transitions,” an AI-driven roadmap designed to help bridge learning and skills gaps while supporting smoother transitions from education to employment. The proposal focused on strengthening workforce readiness and improving employment outcomes for young people.
Bangladesh also received attention during summit discussions on entrepreneurship and innovation. During the session “Beyond the Pitch Deck: Both Sides of the Funding Table,” speakers highlighted the growing potential of emerging-market startup ecosystems. Nicole Mao, founder and CEO of Tiger New Energy, highlighted Bangladesh as an increasingly important hub for technology adoption and scalable innovation, encouraging investors to pay closer attention to the country’s youth-led entrepreneurial landscape.
The participation of the two Bangladeshi delegates reflected the growing visibility of Bangladesh’s young innovators on global platforms and highlighted the country’s contribution to shaping conversations on employment, technology, and sustainable economic development.
