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Meta, in partnership with LightCastle Partners, an international management consulting firm, officially launched its Live Skilling initiative in Bangladesh.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, launched the Live Skilling initiative through a high-level event titled ‘Enabling AI for Small Enterprises: Policy, Innovation, and Inclusion’ at the hotel Amari in the capital’s Gulshan area on Thursday.
The event convened key government officials, tech leaders, and private sector stakeholders to explore how responsible AI adoption can address national development priorities and strengthen Bangladesh’s digital economy, says a media release.
The event began with opening remarks from Ruici Tio, Regional Lead, Safety & Integrity Policy Programs (APAC) at Meta, who introduced Meta’s suite of AI tools and officially launched the Meta Live Skilling initiative in Bangladesh.
“We’re proud to announce the launch of Meta Live Skilling, with LightCastle Partners, to support businesses in Bangladesh with training and on-demand resources on Meta's AI tools,” said Simon Milner, Vice President of Public Policy, Asia-Pacific at Meta.
“This is part of a suite of initiatives we're launching in Bangladesh to support the AI ecosystem and unlock economic opportunity for businesses, no matter where they are along their growth journey.”
This was followed by a product demonstration by Shahir Chowdhury, CEO and Founder of Shikho, showcasing how Bangladeshi edtech companies are already using AI to transform digital learning and improve accessibility.
The centrepiece of the event was a multi-stakeholder panel discussion moderated by Bijon Islam, Co-founder and CEO of LightCastle Partners.
The distinguished panellists included Shihab Quader, Director General for SDGs, Government of Bangladesh; Sahariar Hasan Jiisun, National Consultant, Aspire to Innovate (a2i), ICT Division, Government of Bangladesh; Ruzan Sarwar, Public Policy Manager, Meta; Shahir Chowdhury, Founder & CEO, Shikho.
“For AI to truly serve small enterprises, our regulatory frameworks must be not just protective, but enabling,” said Shihab Quader. “Better regulation means clearer guidance, ethical guardrails, and space for responsible innovation to thrive. Small businesses need both confidence and opportunity to harness AI — our job is to make sure they have both.”
The panel explored how AI can help solve pressing economic challenges—from increasing SME productivity to improving service delivery—and what policy, infrastructure, and institutional alignment are needed to enable inclusive AI adoption across sectors.
More than 75 guests, including senior officials from government and private organisations as well as technology experts, were present at the event.
Speakers also urged policymakers to address critical technological challenges and set priorities to fast-track national development through AI.
Following the panel, a fireside chat with Simon Milner was moderated by Oli Ahad, Founder and CEO of Dhaka AI Labs. The conversation spotlighted the role of open-source models, the importance of collaboration, and the promise of responsible AI innovation for driving long-term economic growth in Bangladesh.
The launch of Meta Live Skilling marks a significant step in Bangladesh’s AI journey, aimed at equipping local businesses, educators, and innovators with the tools and training needed to responsibly leverage AI for real-world impact.