WASHINGTON : As the 13^th annual World Bank Group (WBG) Youth Summit 2026 officially commenced today at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, D.C., Bangladesh secured a prominent place on the global stage. Emerging changemakers Tisha Khandokar and Md Toufiq Elahi are proudly representing Bangladesh as official delegates, joining global leaders and young innovators to address some of the world’s most pressing employment and economic challenges, a press release said.

The high-impact two-day summit opened with a keynote address by World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, who emphasized that creating quality jobs remains central to the Bank’s mission of eradicating poverty and driving inclusive economic growth. He was followed by IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop, who underscored the urgent need to mobilize private capital to generate sustainable employment opportunities across emerging markets, particularly in regions such as South Asia.

Day 1 Highlight: Bangladesh Recognized as a Rising Investment Frontier

One of the key highlights of the opening day was the high-level panel discussion, “Beyond the Pitch Deck: Both Sides of the Funding Table.” The session provided valuable insights into how young entrepreneurs secure funding and what global investors truly evaluate beyond financial metrics.

Representing Bangladesh’s private-sector innovation ecosystem, Ms. Nicole Mao, Founder and CEO of Tiger New Energy, served as a featured panelist. During the discussion, she highlighted Bangladesh’s accelerating development trajectory and its growing potential as a destination for impact-driven investment.

“Bangladesh is no longer just a resilient market; it is an incredible frontier of technological adoption and scalable innovation,” said Mao. “Investors seeking meaningful development impact alongside commercial scalability should pay close attention to the youth-led ecosystem emerging in Bangladesh.”

Her remarks reinforced Bangladesh’s growing reputation as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and transformative economic opportunities.

Day 2 Preview: Bangladeshi Delegates to Present Innovation Solutions

Building on the momentum of Day 1’s discussions around global skills gaps, digital transformation, and employment challenges, the summit will transition into the hands-on Innovation Lab on Day 2.

The two Bangladeshi delegates will present concrete, solution-driven proposals to an expert jury comprising international policymakers, development leaders, and venture capitalists.

Tisha Khandokar will present an AI-powered framework under the Youth Entrepreneurship pillar, focusing on Access to Finance. Her solution “AgriCredit”addresses the barriers young founders face in securing early-stage capital in developing economies, particularly in the era of artificial intelligence.

Md Toufiq Elahi will present a strategic roadmap addressing the Education and Skills crisis through his AI-powered solution, “From Skills to Jobs: TVET Transitions.” His proposal aims to bridge critical learning and skill gaps, enabling young people to transition more effectively from classroom learning to meaningful workforce integration.

With more than 1.2 billion young people expected to enter the job market across emerging economies over the next decade, the participation of Tisha and Toufiq demonstrates that Bangladeshi youth are not merely observing global transformation—they are actively shaping the future of work.