UNDP, Citi Foundation host dialogue to support young entrepreneurs
BI Report || BusinessInsider
Photo: Courtesy
A virtual event for young entrepreneurs in Asia Pacific towards achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) through innovative business solutions was held in the capital.
The event under the banner of Youth Co:Lab titled "Accelerator Bangladesh 3.0: National Dialogue on Bangladesh startup ecosystem into the next decade" was jointly organised by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Citi Foundation in association with Startup Bangladesh Limited and LightCastle Partners in Dhaka on Saturday, according to a press statement.
Youth Co:Lab is created by the UNDP in association with Citi Foundation in 2017, as a platform to empower and invest for young entrepreneurs and innovators to achieve SDGs.
Shams Zaman, Director and Head of Banking, Capital Markets and Advisory, Citibank, NA Bangladesh, said: "Citi is excited to support platforms like Youth Co-Lab to enable young people to take the lead in finding and developing new solutions for social and environmental problems in their respective communities."
Savinda Ranathunga, Regional Youth Project Manager of UNDP, said: "UNDP fosters empowerment and investment in youth so that they can accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals through leadership, social innovation, and entrepreneurship."
Tina Jabeen, Managing Director of Startup Bangladesh Limited, said: "The government believes in the startup ecosystem to generate jobs and new opportunities for Bangladesh's youth. Startup Bangladesh Limited is ready to support entrepreneurs with solutions that aim to achieve Sustainable Development Goals."
Ke Lin (Linka), Youth Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation specialist from UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub, and Bijon Islam, CEO of LightCastle Partners gave the keynote presentation jointly to showcase the present status of the startup ecosystem in Bangladesh.
Youth Co:Lab runs in 25 countries in the Asia Pacific, including Bangladesh, to accelerate the implementation of SDG Goals through leadership, social innovation, and entrepreneurship.
