UNDP hosts futurenation summit to boost youth tech leadership
The FutureNation Summit 2025 took place on 30 November at the National Science and Technology Complex in Agargaon, Dhaka.
Organised by UNDP Bangladesh, the event saw participation from young people representing all 64 districts, as well as delegates from government, industry, academia and development partners. The day-long summit formally launched the Frontier Technology Leadership Training, a flagship initiative under UNDP's FutureNation Programme, designed to equip young people with future-ready technology skills.
Speaking as chief guest, Md Anwar Hossain, Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, said: "The future of industrialisation and technological leadership lies in the hands of our youth. This initiative will help them acquire internationally recognised skills."
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Special guests included Yasir Azman, Chief Executive Officer of Grameenphone, and Stefan Liller, Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, along with senior representatives from the public and private sectors.
Under the training programme, 1,500 students and faculty members from 75 universities nationwide will have the opportunity to enrol in a one-year Harvard course covering AI, machine learning, data science, cyber security and other frontier technology areas. The initiative aims to prepare young people for specialised technology-based roles at home and abroad.
The summit also featured three high-level panel discussions on industrial transformation, research and youth entrepreneurship. Experts highlighted the importance of advanced technology skills, robust research infrastructure and innovation to drive Bangladesh's future industrial economy.
In an interactive session entitled "Design the Future", youth participants from across the country presented innovative ideas on future industries, technology, employment and environmental challenges.
The closing ceremony was attended by Mohammad Monirul Islam, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, as chief guest. Stephen Forbes, Director of the British Council Bangladesh, attended as special guest.
Young people remain the strongest force in shaping Bangladesh's future technology-driven economy, and the FutureNation Summit 2025 stands as a milestone in advancing youth leadership and modern technology competencies.
