Two young Bangladeshis are representing the country at the 13th World Bank Group (WBG) Youth Summit 2026 in Washington, D.C., where global leaders, policymakers and innovators are discussing the future of jobs, digital transformation and economic inclusion.
Tisha Khandokar and Md Toufiq Elahi joined thousands of participants from around the world at the two-day summit, which opened on June 11 at the World Bank headquarters under the theme “FutureWorks: Designing Jobs for the Digital Age.”
Two Bangladeshis selected for World Bank Youth Summit 2026
In his opening keynote, Ajay Banga stressed that creating quality jobs remains central to the World Bank Group’s mission of reducing poverty and promoting inclusive growth.
He was followed by Makhtar Diop, who highlighted the importance of mobilising private investment to generate sustainable employment opportunities, particularly across emerging economies.
A key attraction of the summit’s opening day was a high-level panel titled “Beyond the Pitch Deck: Both Sides of the Funding Table,” which explored how entrepreneurs secure investment and what global investors consider beyond financial performance.
Speaking at the session, Nicole Mao described Bangladesh as an emerging destination for innovation-led investment, citing the country’s rapid technological adoption and growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“Bangladesh is no longer just a resilient market; it is an incredible frontier of technological adoption and scalable innovation,” she said, encouraging investors to pay closer attention to youth-led ventures in the country.
The second day of the summit will feature Innovation Lab presentations, where the two Bangladeshi delegates are set to present AI-powered solutions addressing employment and entrepreneurship challenges.
Tisha Khandokar will showcase “AgriCredit,” an artificial intelligence-based framework designed to improve access to finance for young entrepreneurs in developing economies.
Md Toufiq Elahi will present “From Skills to Jobs: TVET Transitions,” an AI-driven initiative aimed at bridging education and skills gaps to help young people move more effectively from training and education into the workforce.
Organisers said the proposals align with broader discussions at the summit on addressing global skills shortages, expanding digital inclusion and preparing young people for the future of work.
With more than 1.2 billion young people expected to enter labour markets across emerging economies over the next decade, the participation of the two Bangladeshi delegates reflects the growing role of the country’s youth in shaping solutions to global development challenges.
Established in 2013, the World Bank Group Youth Summit is the institution’s flagship platform for engaging young leaders aged 18 to 35 in developing innovative solutions to international development issues.
The 2026 edition focuses on employment, artificial intelligence, digital inclusion and green innovation.
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