Accelerating Green Jobs and Skills in the Bangladesh Content Industry

Bangladesh’s content industry is on the rise, fueled by a dynamic media landscape, growing digital consumption, and a rapidly expanding economy. Yet, the country’s post-production sector—a crucial pillar in this ecosystem—lags due to limited access to cutting-edge technology, specialized training, and global markets. Recognizing the sector’s immense potential for green job creation, the $2.7 million Korea-World Bank Partnership Facility (KWPF) grant, "Bangladesh Human Capital Acceleration," is leveraging Korea’s expertise in green growth strategy to transform Bangladesh’s creative economy into a source of sustainable employment.  The World Bank grant task team is led by co-Task Team Leaders Eun Joo Allison Yi (Senior Environmental Specialist) and Tashmina Rahman (Senior Education Specialist), with contributions from Syed Rashed Al-Zayed Josh (Senior Economist), Joya Chowdhury (Education Specialist - Consultant), Rezwan Shahriar Sumit (Consultant - Film Director).

Through the grant, the task team is supporting the acceleration of green jobs in Bangladesh by building a robust evidence base for the integration of green skills into education and workforce development. Additionally, it is strengthening institutional policies and practitioner dialogue to enhance capacity for sustainable growth and green job creation.

Why post-production? And why now?

Post-production is more than just the final stage of filmmaking—it is where storytelling comes to life, where visuals, sound, and special effects converge to create cinematic excellence. Globally, this industry is a multi-billion-dollar market, and Bangladesh is at a pivotal moment to position itself as a competitive player. Bangladesh’s entertainment sector is valued at $3 billion and is growing at 7% annually, demonstrating an undeniable demand for high-quality content. Limited industry infrastructure, lack of formal training, and insufficient financing remain key barriers to unlocking the full potential of the sector in Bangladesh.

To bridge these gaps, the World Bank launched the PostPro TalentLab in May 2024 to equip post-production professionals with the skills, tools, and networks to thrive both locally and globally. 

A hands-on approach to green growth & creative excellence

PostPro TalentLab was designed not just as a training program but also as an incubator for talent, collaboration, and industry reform. As an operational research module, the initiative provided valuable insights and best practices to shape future policy and investment in the creative economy.

PostPro TalentLab selected a cohort of 22 emerging post-production professionals through an open call for application. Over the course of the 6-months program, the selected fellows delved into a comprehensive curriculum covering a range of post-production topics, including editing, color grading, sound design, and mixing. With mentorship from internationally acclaimed experts, the fellows underwent an immersive learning experience that combined:

• Masterclasses and technical workshops on the latest industry trends and technical knowledge.

• Collaborative short film production, where fellows applied their learning to real-world projects.

• Site visits and networking opportunities to connect with industry stakeholders and potential employers in Bangladesh. 

The fellows produced three original short films that showcased their newfound expertise and demonstrated the Bangladeshi post-production sector’s potential to drive sustainable industry growth.

Green jobs in the creative economy: The private sector’s role

Beyond skill-building, PostPro TalentLab strategically engaged key private sector stakeholders, recognizing that the future of Bangladesh’s creative economy depends on robust industry partnerships. Through policy dialogues, masterclasses, roundtables discussions and networking events, the program brought global streaming platforms, local production houses, and tech firms into the conversation to explore investment opportunities, co-productions, and employment pathways for skilled professionals.

The future of Bangladesh’s post-production industry lies in innovation and sustainability. Investing in energy-efficient studios, digital workflows, and green information communication technology (ICT) solutions reduces operational costs while also enhancing productivity and global competitiveness. As both globally and locally the demand for high-quality content grows, adopting eco-friendly production practices is a strategic advantage, positioning Bangladesh as a leader in sustainable media production while driving new industry growth and job creation. 

The Korea connection: Leveraging global best practices

The KWPF’s involvement in this project enabled the task team to leverage Korea’s success in building a world-class creative industry. Korea is a leader in post-production and digital content creation, and Korean industry experts not only supported the fellowship program through direct mentorship, but also ensured a broader impact on the creative ecosystem in Bangladesh through masterclasses for university students, educators, and professionals

The contributions of industry leaders from Korea, as well as Singapore, were also invaluable during the TalentLab’s Showcase Week in Bangladesh in November 2024. This event convened industry leaders and experts to explore the future of Bangladesh’s post-production sector. The week featured panel discussions and roundtables with key stakeholders and day-long masterclasses to dive deep into emerging trends in film, digital content, and gaming. The experts represented institutions such as the School of Film of the Korean National University of Arts, Dongguk University, Studio Mondo, the Busan International Film Festival, C-47 Studios, Wave Lab, Mocha Chai Laboratories, and Onwards Media Group.

Next steps

The PostPro TalentLab has laid the foundation, but there is more to be done. Scaling up Bangladesh’s post-production sector will require continued investment in:

• Formalized training programs, including accredited film institutes and specialized courses.

• State-of-the-art post-production facilities with cutting-edge technologies. 

• Global market integration to foster co-productions and international distribution opportunities.

• Policy and financing frameworks to make the industry more attractive for investors.

The TalentLab is more than a pilot—it’s a blueprint for a thriving, sustainable post-production ecosystem. Looking ahead, insights from the PostPro TalentLab will contribute to ongoing World Bank operations such as the EARN project (Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET) and the ASSET project (Accelerating and Strengthening Skills for Economic Transformation), reinforcing efforts to create job opportunities for NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) youth. Strengthening policy dialogue and industry collaboration will be key to expanding green job pathways and fostering a more competitive post-production sector. Future initiatives will focus on integrating specialized training, improving market linkages, and enhancing institutional support to drive sustainable industry growth. With forward-thinking policy actions and private sector collaboration, Bangladesh can emerge as a vibrant hub for post-production excellence, job creation, and green innovation.