Dhaka, Sep 26 (V7N) – The United States has introduced a new initiative aimed at fostering leadership and networking among young people across South Asia, including Bangladesh.

The Young South Asian Leaders Initiative (YSALI) was launched on Wednesday by Acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Lee Satterfield and Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu, during an event held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

YSALI will bring together youth from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka to address key regional challenges such as economic opportunities, environmental resilience, and civic participation, according to a statement from the US State Department.

With over 420 million young people across the region, the initiative aims to provide them with networking opportunities, leadership training, professional exchanges, and academic fellowships to help them drive positive change in their home countries and throughout South Asia.

The announcement, which took place alongside the United Nations General Assembly, brought together government officials from South Asia, private sector representatives, civil society partners, and students. This move underscores the US's ongoing commitment to empowering youth globally by expanding its successful youth network model to South Asia.

YSALI joins other regional youth networks, including the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), and the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI).

END/MSS/