The World Bank on Tuesday explored solutions for providing stable employment opportunities for youth through discussions on economic development, investment policies, and entrepreneurship. The session was part of the 2025 Spring Meetings jointly organized with the International Monetary Fund.

A key event titled "One of the Most Pressing and Complex Challenges of Our Time: Meeting Aspirations for Stable Youth Employment in Rapidly Growing Populations" examined this critical issue.

Key Statements:

1. World Bank Group President Ajay Banga emphasized on the Bank's website:
   "Developing countries urgently need jobs that 'add local value and break isolation.' Supporting small farmers through better fertilizer access, protection, and markets boosts productivity. Equally crucial is skills training for youth."

2. Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet highlighted:
   "Governments must support SMEs by streamlining processes, addressing low productivity, and strengthening social safety nets. In Latin America, 70% of jobs are informal—with 75% held by women and men in precarious conditions."

3. Egypt's Minister of Planning Rania Al-Mashat stressed:
   "Macroeconomic stability, structural reforms for competitiveness, and green transition strategies are vital for youth employment." She cited Egypt's renewable energy sector as a success story where private-sector partnerships created significant job opportunities.

4. Singapore Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam noted:
   "Underutilizing women's talents represents a massive global economic loss—a challenge persisting in both developing and advanced economies." He advocated leveraging AI to enhance agricultural productivity in developing nations.

Context:

• The Bank projects 1.2 billion youth entering emerging-economy labor markets this decade, with only 420 million jobs expected—demanding urgent, scalable solutions.

• The Spring Meetings commenced Monday in Washington amid global trade tensions recently escalated by former U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, most now suspended for 90 days.

• Attendees include government, civil society, and business leaders—such as Kuwait’s Finance Ministry Undersecretary Esra Al-Munaifi—to discuss poverty reduction and development strategies.

These annual gatherings (alongside fall meetings) serve as a critical platform for policymakers to address global challenges, following October 2024’s discussions on debt and growth.