BIDA–UNDP workshop calls for smarter policies
Innovative policies, improved capital access, and a supportive ecosystem are essential to unleash the full potential of Bangladesh's young entrepreneurs, said speakers at a national workshop held on Thursday (17 July) at the BIDA Multipurpose Hall in Dhaka.
The event, titled "Youth Entrepreneurship: Investment, Policy, and Ecosystem," was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the UK-funded Transformative Economic Policy Programme Phase II (TEPP-II).
As Chief Guest, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, Hon'ble Adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Local Government, said: "What we are witnessing is the rise of a generation that is not waiting for permission—it is forging ahead with purpose and passion. This energy must be matched by our commitment to remove barriers and equip them to lead."
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Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Hon'ble Chief Adviser, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and IT, stressed the need to embed startup literacy in education and build stronger skill and capital pipelines to fuel youth-led innovation.
Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of BIDA, said: "Young entrepreneurs are national assets. We must support them through smart regulation, accessible finance, and an enabling ecosystem."
Sonali Dayaratne, Resident Representative (a.i.), UNDP Bangladesh, noted that although over 1,200 startups have raised nearly USD 800 million and created 1.5 million jobs in the past decade, few have scaled due to structural gaps in finance, infrastructure, and regional inclusion.
In his keynote, Zahedul Amin, Managing Director of LightCastle Partners, underscored the need for better alignment between youth enterprise and policy.
Other speakers included Dr Mehruna Islam Chowdhury, Owais Parray, Country Economic Advisor, UNDP Bangladesh, and Nahian Rahman Rochi, Head of Business Development at BIDA.
More than 100 young entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and ecosystem stakeholders participated in the workshop, which addressed issues including early-stage financing, regulatory complexity, and limited skills training.
Key recommendations included forming venture capital funds, establishing regulatory sandboxes, implementing credit guarantee schemes, and developing a national startup strategy. Calls were also made to support emerging sectors, including agribusiness, green technology, tourism, and fintech.
The workshop concluded with a joint pledge to develop a comprehensive youth entrepreneurship policy roadmap, engaging BIDA, Startup Bangladesh, Bangladesh Bank, the ICT Division, and other partners.
