Bangladesh and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in education, culture, youth empowerment and sustainable development, with a renewed focus on skills development and the creative economy.
The commitment came during a courtesy meeting between UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh Dr. Susan Vize and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the State Minister praised UNESCO for its longstanding partnership with Bangladesh and its continued support in key sectors, including education, culture, science, climate resilience, youth empowerment and digital transformation.
She highlighted the enduring ties between Bangladesh and UNESCO, citing the global recognition of International Mother Language Day and the recent inscription of the traditional weaving art of the Tangail Saree on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as landmark achievements reflecting the country’s rich cultural heritage.
Reaffirming the government’s long-term vision for quality education and youth development, Shama Obaed Islam emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). She stressed the need for language training and internationally recognized certification programmes to equip prospective migrant workers with globally competitive skills.
The State Minister also conveyed Bangladesh’s readiness to welcome UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay on an official visit to the country at a mutually convenient time.
Dr. Susan Vize reiterated UNESCO’s firm commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s national development priorities and commended the country for its active engagement with the organization’s programmes and initiatives.
She expressed UNESCO’s interest in broadening collaboration in education, cultural preservation, youth engagement and sustainable development, while highlighting the significant potential of Bangladesh’s creative economy to unlock the talent, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of its young population.
Welcoming UNESCO’s emphasis on the creative sector, the State Minister underscored the need to integrate the creative economy into Bangladesh’s national development strategy and position it as a key driver of economic growth and employment.
Both sides concluded the meeting by reaffirming their shared commitment to further strengthening the longstanding Bangladesh-UNESCO partnership in pursuit of inclusive, sustainable and knowledge-based development.