Bangladesh has launched a National Action Plan to accelerate youth entrepreneurship and strengthen support systems for young entrepreneurs across the country.
The plan focuses on skills development, access to finance, mentorship, market access, job creation, institutional coordination, women’s leadership, rural youth inclusion, support for marginalised communities and sustainable youth participation in economic growth.
The Government of Bangladesh launched the National Action Plan in Dhaka with support from the United Nations Development Programme and Plan International Bangladesh. The plan aims to operationalize the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Policy 2025 and provide a structured framework for youth entrepreneurship initiatives.
Speaking at the launch, Md. Aminul Haque, State Minister for Youth and Sports, said young people have a critical role in driving economic growth. He emphasized the need to strengthen skills development, create meaningful employment opportunities and support the innovative potential of young people, especially young women.
Md. Mahbub Ul Alam, Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, said the Action Plan should take a holistic and inclusive approach. He noted the importance of adopting a bottom-up process and organizing consultations in other divisions to ensure broader participation.
Sonali Dayaratne, Acting Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, said the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Policy 2025 and its National Action Plan offer a timely opportunity to strengthen the ecosystem for young entrepreneurs. She highlighted the need to expand access to finance, skills, mentorship and markets while ensuring inclusion for young women, rural youth and underserved groups.
Kabita Bose, Country Director of Plan International Bangladesh, stressed that young people should not only participate in the process but also lead it. She called for the plan to avoid being city-centric and to ensure leadership opportunities for women, ethnic minorities and marginalised communities.
The launch event included technical sessions on the strategic overview of the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Policy 2025, the formulation process of the National Action Plan and stakeholder consultations. These discussions aimed to gather input from diverse actors and make the plan more inclusive and actionable.
The National Action Plan is expected to strengthen institutional coherence, improve youth entrepreneurship support and help young people contribute more effectively to Bangladesh’s economic growth.
