Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s exemplary foresight was represented by long-term

objective in the progress of Bangladesh. He had engaged himself in building an inclusive

education system considering the socio-economic and political state of the country during the
post liberation period. Establishing a uniform, mass oriented and universal system of education
and extending free and compulsory education to all children was a part of his agenda. His self-
proclaimed “Shonar Bangla” was constructed upon the idea of molding our masses into
proficient & effective all-encompassing manpower, which included expertise in technical and
research-based fields as well as commercial sectors. The abundance of quality educational
institutions, including our very own IBA, is a direct outcome of his prudence.

Our honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken the onus upon herself to carry on her
father’s unfinished duty, and her mapped out plan labelled as “Vision 2041” sees Bangladesh as a
fully developed High-Income Country. It serves as a concise representation of the portrayal of
Bangabandhu’s ‘Shonar Bangla’. The upcoming vision and its true translation into the
perspective plan will create link with government's priorities vis-à-vis the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG) and their targets. The International Conference on “Management of
Innovation and Sustainability”, IBA, under the leadership of the Ministry of Education of the
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, aims to bring together academics, business
leaders and representatives of associations, policy makers and practitioners interested in
strengthening and contributing to the field of business, innovation, and sustainability.

The mindset of “think globally, act locally” adopted through SDGs serves as an accurate
representation of the target of this conference, which is to analyze the opportunities and
challenges of implementing Vision 2041, and explore practical strategies and solutions. At such a
critical time in the context of global political and socio-economic state, a united approach
towards exploring the strengths and weaknesses of our future plan through an international
conference is a praiseworthy task undertaken by IBA.

Bangladesh has made tremendous progress in attaining the agendas, which includes high growth,
job creation, and reduction of poverty and inequality. The difficult path ahead includes
elimination of poverty, and reaching Upper Middle-Income Country (UMIC) status by 2030 and
High-Income Country (HIC) status around 2041. The dynamic skillset proper business education
provides serves to develop individuals that contribute meaningfuly to the economic growth and
development of Bangladesh. It helps to build a connecting link that creates productive and very
thoughtful citizens that can contribute to local, regional and national competitiveness.

IBA has taken a wonderful measure of celebrating a prestigious year with this grand international
conference. Greetings of “Mujib Borsho” to all of the participants on behalf of the ministry of
Education of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.