Youth Development Forum in Baku Focuses on Empowerment

The 14th Youth Development Forum, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, alongside the 2026 Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) meeting, emphasized regional integration as a pathway to youth empowerment and shared prosperity. The forum gathered government officials, development practitioners, youth leaders, entrepreneurs, and academics from IsDB member countries to explore opportunities for young people.

Mr. Idrissa Dia, Director of the Resilience and Climate Action Department at IsDB, underscored the importance of youth empowerment for sustainable development.

H.E. Anar Karimov, First Deputy Minister of Finance of Azerbaijan, highlighted the need for investment in youth education and skill development.

Prof. Adalat Muradov from UNEC stressed the role of education and entrepreneurship in expanding opportunities for youth.

The forum concluded with a call for stronger collaboration among governments, development institutions, academia, the private sector, and youth organizations to develop scalable solutions that empower young people and contribute to sustainable regional development.