IsDB youth forum in Baku calls for deeper regional cooperation to unlock jobs, growth

The Islamic Development Bank Group convened its 14th Youth Development Forum in Baku on June 16, bringing together officials, development practitioners, academics and young entrepreneurs to discuss how regional cooperation can expand opportunities for youth across member states.

Held on the sidelines of the 2026 IsDB Group Annual Meetings under the broader theme “Regional Integration for Sustainable Prosperity,” the forum focused on youth employment, entrepreneurship, mobility, innovation and sustainable development, IsDB reports.

Opening the event, Idrissa Dia, Director of the Resilience and Climate Action Department at the Islamic Development Bank, said youth empowerment was central to advancing sustainable development and strengthening cooperation among member countries.

Anar Karimov, First Deputy Minister of Finance of Azerbaijan, said investment in young people remained among the most strategic policy priorities, stressing the importance of education, skills development and cross-border cooperation in unlocking long-term economic potential.

Adalat Muradov, Rector of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), highlighted the role of education and entrepreneurship in broadening youth opportunities and supporting national development goals.

Farhad Hajiyev, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, said empowering young people through innovation, skills training and international cooperation was key to improving regional connectivity and sustainable growth.

A high-level panel titled “Youth Without Borders: Regional Cooperation as a Catalyst for Youth Empowerment” included contributions from Ramil Maharramov, adjunct professor at ADA University and senior consultant at the World Bank, as well as Guldana Dadashova of the European Youth Parliament Azerbaijan and Rahim Bayramli, co-founder of SABAH.HUB.

Panellists said stronger regional frameworks were needed to support youth-led enterprises, expand knowledge exchange and improve access to cross-border digital and trade opportunities. They also called for greater inclusion of youth voices in policy design and implementation.

Speakers additionally stressed the importance of integrating young people into innovation ecosystems and regional value chains, arguing that cooperation among governments, academia, the private sector and civil society would be essential to scaling impact.

The forum concluded with a call for deeper collaboration across institutions to develop practical, scalable initiatives aimed at empowering young people and strengthening long-term regional development across IsDB member countries.

By Aghakazim Guliyev