Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh Michael Miller on Thursday said “Shoktikonna” is part and parcel of their work in Bangladesh - to support women's empowerment, maximise growth potential, involve young people in decision-shaping and promote a green transition.

“The EU stands shoulder to shoulder with Bangladesh at this important moment of transition, providing EUR 3.7 billion for energy and climate,” he said.

The Ambassador was speaking at the Green Skills Summit 2025, organised as a part of Shoktikonna Leadership Cohort.

It brought together more than 200 participants from across Bangladesh’s sustainable energy sectors to celebrate and accelerate women’s leadership in the country’s green transition.

The summit marked a major step forward in connecting education, industry, and policy toward an inclusive green energy transition.

Shoktikonna Leadership Cohort is a platform developed to empower young women aspiring to build careers in Bangladesh’s sustainable energy sector.

Now in its third cohort, more than 100 young women in STEM fields have already graduated from Shoktikonna, many of whom are now working in renewable energy, clean technology, and environmental management roles.

The third cohort is supported by the European Union in Bangladesh, German development cooperation, and The World Bank, and implemented by GIZ Bangladesh and Devtale Partners.

Building on the success of earlier Shoktikonna cohorts, this year’s summit showcased the tangible results of the initiative’s mission to bridge gender gaps in Bangladesh’s energy and sustainability workforce.

Over 20 companies participated in the event, pledging to create more than 40 traineeships for women and engaging directly with Shoktikonna graduates through mentorship, career dialogues, and recruitment sessions.

The Shoktikonna Green Skills Summit 2025 unfolded as a day of powerful dialogues and forward-looking ideas, bringing together voices from across Bangladesh’s sustainability landscape.

Through four major sessions, participants explored how inclusive green growth can become a driver of equitable transformation.

The day began with welcome notes from Stoyanka Stich, Coordinator of the Energy Cluster at GIZ Bangladesh, followed by a video message from Marjeta Jager, Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for International Partnerships, European Commission.

The inaugural plenary brought together speakers including, Ulrich Kleppmann, Head of German Development Cooperation, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Dhaka; Zohra Khatoon, Joint Secretary, Power Division.

Together, they reaffirmed the shared commitment to advancing gender equality as a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s sustainable energy transformation.

Ulrich Kleppmann said, “Shoktikonna is not only for gaining skills, it’s a platform for the young women to claim their spaces in a sector where women were never meant to be just observers, to send the message: I (women) belong here, this is my place! And I will open this door for others too.”

This was followed by an exchange with Shoktikonna Participants, moderated by Syeda Ashrafiz Zaharia Prodhan (GIZ Bangladesh), which spotlighted the journeys of young women from STEM disciplines entering the sustainability workforce. Sharing their experiences, participants reflected on the challenges of translating technical training into meaningful careers and their aspirations to help build a resilient, climate-smart Bangladesh.

A High-Level Dialogue on Green Skills for Inclusive Growth and Just Transition, moderated by Sohel Ahmed, Managing Director of Grameen Shakti, convened policymakers, academics, and industry leaders to discuss the most pressing skill gaps and opportunities for collaboration.

In the panel dialogue, “From Inclusion to Impact – Women Leaders Shaping the Green Ecosystem,” moderated by Tanushree Bhowmick, WePOWER Lead, The World Bank, women leaders from the development, finance, and enterprise sectors shared their personal journeys and reflected on the structural changes needed to move from symbolic inclusion toward measurable impact.

In the session “Boardroom to Greenroom: CxOs Steering the Transition”, Yasir Azman (Grameenphone), Ruhul Quddus (Unilever), and Mr. Alamgir Morshed (IDCOL) discussed how companies are embedding sustainability and gender equity into their business models, bridging the gap between corporate strategy and environmental action.

The Green Skills Summit 2025 aimed to be a bridge between aspiration and opportunity. Industry representatives and development partners emphasized the urgent need to align skill-building programs with emerging demands in the renewable and sustainable sectors.

Speakers underscored that women’s participation is essential for innovation, resilience, and community representation in the green economy.