US partners with businesses to enhance youth employment

The United States (US) brought together leaders
from youth organizations across the country and the private sector to
establish new partnerships for youth employment and greater prosperity.

The programme is being carried out by The United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) for building the job skills of Bangladeshi
youth and unlocks employment opportunities.

Visiting USAID Assistant Administrator for Asia Michael Schiffer joined USAID
Mission Director Reed Aeschliman and Shikho CEO Shahir Chowdhury to sign a
memorandum of understanding, a US embassy press release said here today.

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.

This initiative will enable youth to contribute more fully to Bangladesh’s
economic growth.

Schiffer said, “Providing youth with more marketable job skills will make
Bangladesh more competitive and 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.”

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. (BSS)