Bangladesh Brand Forum organised the NRB Conclave 2024, Presented by Prime Bank PLC, Powered by bKash Limited and Team Group BD, a landmark initiative, on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. Under the theme “Transforming Bangladesh Through Knowledge Remittance,” the initiative aspires to establish a structured framework for engaging Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) as catalysts for national transformation.
The NRB Conclave 2024 is committed to creating a robust framework that mobilizes NRBs' intellectual capital to drive investment, knowledge & skill, nation branding, tech & innovation in Bangladesh. The objectives include leveraging global expertise, fostering knowledge exchange to address future challenges, and engaging NRBs in initiatives that contribute to societal impact and sustainable growth.
The conclave featured an ambitious agenda, including three astute keynote sessions, four panel discussions, one project-launching session, and a session on national branding context sharing. These components are designed to address pressing issues, foster collaborations, and generate actionable plans for driving growth through NRB engagement.
MD. Jashim Uddin, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, honored the conclave as the Opening Chief Guest. He stated, “The theme, 'Transforming Bangladesh Through Knowledge Remittance,' highlights the power of expertise and innovation. Beyond financial remittances, NRBs have the potential to revolutionize sectors like investment, technology, skill development, and nation branding, positioning Bangladesh as a competitive player on the global stage.”
Md. Touhid Hossain, Honorable Adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, graced the conclave as the closing Chief Guest. In his speech, he said, "Bangladesh stands at the crossroads of transformation, inspired by its vibrant younger generation and driven by the July Uprising's aspirations. To thrive globally, we must enhance the quality of our workforce, embrace innovation, upskill our labor force, and harness the expertise of Non-Resident Bangladeshis. With improved ICT infrastructure and strategic rebranding, Bangladesh can position itself as a hub for investment, technology, and partnerships, ready to compete in the digital future.”
Shariful Islam, Founder & Managing Director of Bangladesh Brand Forum and Founder of Bangladesh Innovation Conclave delivered the welcome speech, stating, “This conclave stems from our firm belief that Bangladesh’s future lies not only in the strength of its economy but also in the brilliance of its global citizens. With over 10 million Non-Resident Bangladeshis contributing across industries worldwide, we are uniquely positioned to harness their expertise to drive innovation, investment, and sustainable development.”
The keynote sessions featured prominent speakers, including Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy on International Affairs to the Honorable Chief Adviser, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, who spoke on “The New Bangladesh Narrative.” Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of BIDA and BEZA, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, addressed “The Future of Bangladesh's Economy and NRB Engagement,” while Shariar Pavel, Chief Experience Officer of Huawei Consumer Business Group, UAE; CIP 2025 (NRB), Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh delivered insights from his knowledge and experience.”
The panel discussions explored the four tracks of NRB Conclave - Investment, Knowledge & Skill, Nation Branding, Tech & Innovation. The panels drove and planned the future course of Bangladesh through the engagement of NRBs. In addition to that, the panels focused on pressing topics like Reshaping Skill Development in Bangladesh Through NRB Engagement, How NRBs Can Catalyze Investment in Emerging Sectors of Bangladesh, Leveraging NRBs for Inclusive Tech Growth, and Aligning Public and Private Efforts for Bangladesh’s Nation Brand. These discussions brought together White Collar NRBs, Industry Leaders, Policymakers, and Thought Leaders to examine opportunities for integrating NRBs into the country’s growth trajectory.
A major highlight of the conclave was the project launch of the Future City Competition USA with NYBSYS and Racson USA. This initiative is expected to foster collaboration and drive innovation by engaging NRBs in transformative urban development projects.
The conclave featured insights from distinguished speakers, including Mohammed Walid Hossain, Additional Secretary, Finance Division, Ministry of Finance, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh; Ata Safdar, Former Regional CEO, SVP ASEAN & Japan/Korea; Global Leadership Team Member, Reckitt; Moshtaq Ahmed Founder & CEO, NYBSYS, USA; Sajid Rahman, Chairman, Board Finance Committee, ICANN; Managing Partner, MyAsiaVC; Mominul Islam, Chairman, Dhaka Stock Exchange PLC.; Zia U Ahmed, Founder and Chairman, Venture Investment Partners Bangladesh (VIPB); Yasir Azman, Chief Executive Officer, Grameenphone Ltd.; Dr. Syed Muntasir Mamun, Chief Innovation Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh; Sylvana Q. Sinha, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Praava Health; Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Policy Advisor, ICT Division, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Arshad Parvez, Director, Technology, Cloud Platform & Al, ASEAN, Asia Pacific, Oracle Singapore; Ashraf Bin Taj, Co-founder and Managing Director of IDC Bangladesh PLC; Dr. Syed Ferhat Anwar, Vice Chancellor of BRAC University; Immediate Past President, Asia Marketing Federation; Ashikur Rahman, Consultant at The World Bank; Prof. Imran Rahman, Vice Chancellor of ULAB; and many others.
NRB Conclave 2024 aims to harness the intellectual capital of over 10 million NRBs worldwide. By fostering innovation, investment, and impactful collaborations, the initiative seeks to shape Bangladesh’s future and elevate its global standing.
NRB Conclave 2024, Presented by Prime Bank PLC, Powered by bKash and Team Group BD, is an initiative of Bangladesh Brand Forum. Knowledge partner – Marketing Society of Bangladesh (MSB); Academic Partner – BBF Academy; Innovation Partner – Bangladesh Innovation Conclave; PR Partner – Backpage PR.