World Bank Vice President for South Asia Johannes Zutt concluded a three-day visit to Bangladesh on Tuesday, during which he met with the ministers of finance, planning, and commerce, as well as the prime minister’s economic adviser and the Bangladesh Bank governor. Discussions focused on the government’s development priorities and areas where the World Bank Group could extend support.

Zutt emphasized that the government is prioritizing large-scale job creation alongside skills development and investment, and that the World Bank Group is committed to helping achieve these goals. He noted that 14 million young people entered Bangladesh’s labor market over the past decade, but only 8.7 million jobs were created, leaving nearly half of the youth unemployed, particularly women. He stressed the need for long-pending macroeconomic and financial sector reforms to sustain growth and employment amid global uncertainty.

The World Bank Group supports countries in transforming growth into local employment by investing in physical and human infrastructure, promoting business-friendly environments, and mobilizing private capital. Since Bangladesh’s independence, the World Bank has provided over $46 billion in grants and concessional financing through the International Development Association.