South Asia Labor Mobility Conference

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

FRAMING PRESENTATION

· Syud Amer Ahmed, Program Leader for Human Development, Bangladesh and Bhutan and Lead Economist, World Bank

9:30 AM

SESSION 1: SKILLS PARTNERSHIPS
This session explores how skills partnerships such as the Global Skill Partnership (GSP) model embed skills development to meet labor shortages for international labor mobility and domestic employment as well.

OVERALL FRAMEWORK: GLOBAL SKILL PARTNERSHIP REPORT
· Pablo Acosta, Global Lead for Migration and Lead Economist, World Bank
· Limon Bade Rodriguez, Economist (Consultant), World Bank

SESSION KEYNOTE
· Young-bum Park, Professor, Hansung University; Former President, Human Resources Development, Korea

CASE: INDIA
· Liju George, Lead, Triple Win Program in India, GIZ

CASE: MOROCCO
· Halima Salak, Head of Partnership and Cooperation Division, Morocco National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Competencies (ANAPEC)

PANEL DISCUSSION I: HOST COUNTRIES
This panel presents perspectives from migrant host countries around the world and identify priorities and policy options for better skills partnership and support to migrants.

· 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
· Martin Raiser, Vice President for South Asia, World Bank

LUNCH

SESSION 2: SUPPORT TO PROSPECTIVE MIGRANTS
This session explores how governments and partners can better support migrants before departure, while overseas, and after their return.

OVERALL FRAMEWORK
· Cem Mete, Practice Manager, South Asia Social Protection and Labor, World Bank

SESSION KEYNOTE
· Patricia Yvonne M. Caunan, Undersecretary, Department of Migrant Workers, the Philippines

CASE: SRI LANKA
· Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Sri Lanka

CASE: KOSOVO
· Besa Kabashi-Ramaj, Executive Advisor, Heimerer Healthcare and Wellbeing Eco-Village, Kosovo

3:00 PM

COFFEE BREAK

SESSION 3: MIGRATION IN SMALL STATES & ISLAND COUNTRIES
This session focuses on the unique migration challenges and opportunities faced by small states and island countries.

OVERALL FRAMEWORK
· Zoe Leiyu Xie, Senior Economist, Chief Economist Office for South Asia, World Bank

SESSION KEYNOTE
· Dasho Tashi Wangmo, Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, Royal Government of Bhutan

CASE: PAPUA NEW GUINEA
· Hakaua Susan Harry, Director, Labour Mobility Unit, Department of Treasury, Papua New Guinea

CASE: MALDIVES
· Ali Haidar Ahmed, Minister of Higher Education, Labor and Skills Development, Maldives

CASE: JAMAICA
· Antonette Richards, Director, Social Policy, Planning and Research Division, Planning Institute of Jamaica

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
This session explores the impact of remittances and the role of diasporas in supporting development, with a focus on how countries can harness these financial flows for sustainable growth.

OVERALL FRAMEWORK
· Franziska Ohnsorge, Chief Economist for South Asia, World Bank

SESSION KEYNOTE
· Lyonpo Lekey Dorji, Minister, Ministry of Finance, Royal Government of Bhutan

CASE: NEPAL
· Krishna Pushkar, Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Nepal

CASE: MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
· Roberta Gatti, Chief Economist for Middle East and North Africa, World Bank

CASE: PHILIPPINES
· Patricia Yvonne M. Caunan, Undersecretary, Department of Migrant Workers, the Philippines

PANEL DISCUSSION II: SENDING COUNTRIES
This panel explores how migrant sending countries can better leverage the economic potential of diasporas while supporting the reintegration of return migrants.

· Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji, Minister, Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment, Royal Government of Bhutan

· Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, Bangladesh

· 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
· Stefano Paternostro, Acting Regional Director for People, South Asia Region, World Bank

LUNCH

SESSION 5: RETURN & REINTEGRATION
This session focuses on the challenges and opportunities associated with the return and reintegration of migrant workers, examining how governments can support their economic and social reintegration.

OVERALL FRAMEWORK
· Soonhwa Yi, Senior Economist, East Asia and Pacific Social Protection and Labor, World Bank

CASE: INDIA
· Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister and Head of Special Task Force on Distress Migration, State Government of Odisha, India

CASE: BANGLADESH
· A.T.M. Mahbub-ul Karim, Project Director and Joint Secretary, Wage Earners’ Welfare Board (WEWB), Bangladesh

CASE: BHUTAN
· Kunzang Lhamu, Director General, Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, Royal Government of Bhutan

CASE: PHILIPPINES
· Francis Ron de Guzman, Assistant Secretary for Reintegration Services, Department of Migrant Workers, the Philippines

3:00 PM

CLOSING REMARK

· Dasho Kesang Deki, Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Royal Government of Bhutan