- Overview
- DAY 1 | Agenda & Materials
- DAY 2 | Agenda & Materials
- Speakers
Organized by the World Bank Social Protection and Labor (SPL) South Asia, SPL Global Unit, and South Asia Office of the Chief Economist, in collaboration with the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB), this conference provided a platform for cross-country sharing of best practices, solutions, and learning as well as promoted collaboration among high-level government officials and experts from both migrant sending countries and host countries.
The state of labor mobility in South Asia presents both opportunities and challenges. Tens of millions of people from the region emigrate to key destinations, such as Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, East Asia, North America, and Europe. Three of the world¡¯s ten largest remittance recipients are in South Asia: India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. In some countries, like Nepal, remittances constitute a significant portion of the economy. These financial transfers have been shown to increase household incomes, foster entrepreneurship, and help reduce gender gaps and inequality. However, the costs of migration are high in certain corridors, particularly to the GCC, and brain drain remains a major risk that needs to be addressed. Meanwhile, return migration and reintegration are emerging as critical policy priorities, especially for Bhutan.
Skills development plays a crucial role in enhancing prospects for higher-quality, higher-paying jobs both domestically and internationally, while also helping workers become less vulnerable to exploitation. Skilled workers bring added benefits to their home countries beyond remittances, including accumulated human, financial capital, and social networks. Skilled workers are also able work in a wider range of destinations, including Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea. Upon returning home, their skills facilitate reintegration through employment opportunities and entrepreneurship. Therefore, upskilling should go hand in hand with strengthened labor market intermediation to improve outcomes for both workers and countries of origin. Additionally, artificial intelligence and digital technologies can enhance the match between skills supply and demand, improving the overall efficiency of labor markets.
DAY 1 | Tuesday, May 20, 2025
8:30 AM |
REGISTRATION |
9:00 AM |
OPENING ADDRESS ¡¤ Lyonchhoen Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister, Royal Government of Bhutan ¡¤ Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of Operations, World Bank |
| 9:15 AM |
¡¤ Syud Amer Ahmed, Program Leader for Human Development, Bangladesh and Bhutan and Lead Economist, World Bank |
9:30 AM |
SESSION 1: SKILLS PARTNERSHIPS |
CASE: INDIA
|
| 11:00 AM | COFFEE BREAK |
| 11:15 AM | PANEL DISCUSSION I: HOST COUNTRIES ¡¤ Maciej Duszczyk, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Poland ¡¤ Stefania Congia, Director General for Migration and Integration Policies, Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, Italy ¡¤ Steven Biddle, Minister Counsellor, Department of Home Affairs and Regional Director South Asia, Australia ¡¤ Franziska Ohnsorge, Chief Economist for South Asia, World Bank Moderator |
| 12:15 PM | LUNCH |
| 1:30 PM | SESSION 2: SUPPORT TO PROSPECTIVE MIGRANTS OVERALL FRAMEWORK
|
3:00 PM |
COFFEE BREAK |
| 3:15 PM | SESSION 3: MIGRATION IN SMALL STATES & ISLAND COUNTRIES
SESSION KEYNOTE
CASE: MALDIVES
|
DAY 2 | Wednesday, May 21, 2025
8:30 AM |
CHECK-IN |
9:00 AM |
RECAP OF DAY 1 ¡¤ Kunzang Lhamu, Director General, Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, Royal Government of Bhutan |
9:15 AM |
SESSION 4: REMITTANCES & DIASPORA
SESSION KEYNOTE CASE: NEPAL
|
| 11:00 AM | COFFEE BREAK |
| 11:15 AM | PANEL DISCUSSION II: SENDING COUNTRIES ¡¤ Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji, Minister, Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment, Royal Government of Bhutan ¡¤ Chithra Arumugam, Principal Secretary, Labour & ESI Department; Science & Technology Department, State Government of Odisha, India ¡¤ Maciej Duszczyk, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Poland ¡¤ Roberta Gatti, Chief Economist for Middle East and North Africa, World Bank Moderator |
| 12:15 PM | LUNCH |
| 1:15 PM | SESSION 5: RETURN & REINTEGRATION
CASE: INDIA CASE: BANGLADESH
|
3:00 PM |
CLOSING REMARK ¡¤ Dasho Kesang Deki, Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Royal Government of Bhutan |
REMARKS
PANELISTS
PRESENTERS
Date: May 20 - 21, 2025 ET
Location: Thimphu, Bhutan
Event Contact:
Office of the Chief Economist in South Asia