COAST Foundation urges empowering youth entrepreneurs for inclusive growth

Speakers at a series of youth entrepreneurship gatherings organized by COAST Foundation have called for empowering young entrepreneurs to promote sustainable economic growth and social development in Bangladesh’s coastal and rural regions.

The events, held between 19 October and 2 November 2025 across multiple districts (Cox’s Bazar, Bhola, Chattogram, Cumilla, Noakhali, Barishal and the small islands of the Bay of Bengal), aimed to strengthen youth participation in enterprise development and poverty reduction efforts.

More than 250 participants, including youth, government officials, civil society leaders, microfinance practitioners and media representatives, took part in the gatherings. 

Over 120 young entrepreneurs, many of whom are engaged in COAST’s microfinance programs, shared their experiences and business journeys.

Speakers at the assemblies emphasized that youth entrepreneurship is vital for inclusive economic growth, job creation and resilience in vulnerable coastal areas. 

They underscored the need for access to finance, business training, and market linkages to enable youth to become opportunity creators rather than job seekers.

Presenting the keynote, Regional Program Coordinators of COAST highlighted the organization’s enterprise-focused approach and its commitment to supporting youth-led ventures within Bangladesh’s evolving microfinance landscape. 

They noted that while youth make up nearly one-third of the population, only a small fraction have access to structured and regulated entrepreneurship opportunities.

Two sets of recommendations emerged from the discussions. For COAST Foundation, suggestions included identifying potential young entrepreneurs, especially uneducated or climate-affected youth; designing flexible, low-interest enterprise financing schemes and expanding business development initiatives for women and coastal communities.

For government authorities, participants recommended expanding youth entrepreneurship funds at district levels, improving access to finance and creating joint platforms with NGOs and the private sector for training, market access and scaling up youth-led enterprises.

Several young entrepreneurs shared inspiring stories of transformation; from launching small tailoring and retail ventures to establishing aquaculture processing units that created local jobs. 

Officials from the Department of Youth Development and other agencies pledged continued support to integrate entrepreneurship more effectively into national youth programs.

Through these regional assemblies, COAST Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to advancing youth entrepreneurship as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth, poverty alleviation and community resilience, especially in Bangladesh’s coastal and rural areas.