Meta, in collaboration with LightCastle Partners, officially launched its ‘Live Skilling’ initiative in Bangladesh to empower small enterprises with AI-based tools and training.

The initiative was unveiled on Thursday during a high-level event titled ‘Enabling AI for Small Enterprises: Policy, Innovation, and Inclusion’ at Hotel Amari in Dhaka.

The event brought together key government officials, tech leaders, and private sector stakeholders to explore the potential of responsible AI adoption in advancing Bangladesh’s digital economy.

Ruici Tio, Meta’s APAC Safety & Integrity Policy Lead, inaugurated the programme, followed by a product demonstration from Shahir Chowdhury, CEO of edtech platform Shikho, showcasing AI’s impact on digital learning.

“We’re proud to launch Meta Live Skilling to support Bangladeshi businesses with training and on-demand resources on our AI tools,” said Simon Milner, Meta’s VP of Public Policy for Asia-Pacific.

A panel moderated by Bijon Islam, CEO of LightCastle Partners, included representatives from the government, Meta, and Shikho. Shihab Quader, Director General for SDGs, emphasised the need for regulatory frameworks that enable responsible innovation. “Small businesses need both confidence and opportunity to harness AI,” he said.

The discussion focused on leveraging AI for SME productivity, improved service delivery, and inclusive growth.

The event concluded with a fireside chat between Simon Milner and Dhaka AI Labs CEO Oli Ahad, highlighting the promise of open-source AI and cross-sector collaboration to accelerate national development.

Over 75 guests attended the event.