United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Assistant Administrator for Asia Michael Schiffer on Saturday said providing youth with more marketable job skills will make Bangladesh more competitive.

He said this will also help position the country to be the next ‘Asian Tiger’ – a royal Bengal tiger – and deliver on the promise of providing more equitable opportunities for prosperity to all citizens.

Through USAID, the United States brought together leaders from youth organizations across the country and the private sector to establish new partnerships for youth employment and greater prosperity.

USAID Assistant Administrator for Asia Michael Schiffer, visiting from Washington, D.C., joined USAID Mission Director Reed Aeschliman and Shikho CEO Shahir Chowdhury to sign a memorandum of understanding to collaborate in building the job skills of Bangladeshi youth and unlock employment opportunities.

USAID convened its first-ever youth-private sector marketplace event to connect businesses like Visa and Shikho with youth organizations like Jaago and the Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center to identify and strengthen skills needed to modernize the country’s workforce, while enabling youth to contribute more fully to Bangladesh’s economic growth.

USAID’s education and youth programs are increasingly seeking private sector partners to invest in building the skills of youth in classrooms, communities, and in the workplace.

The United States has partnered with Bangladesh for more than 50 years and provided more than $8 billion to improve health, education, agriculture, food security, and humanitarian assistance, and strengthen resilience to climate change and natural disasters.

Leaders from private sector businesses and local youth organizations including Jaago Foundation Trust and Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center shared their insights on the types of skills most desired to meet the evolving needs of both entities.

They also discussed ways to collaborate more closely in modernizing the country’s youth workforce capabilities.