Sri Lankan Delegation Attends 17th South Asian Management Forum in Bhutan 📈

• Overall Event: Sri Lanka’s Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) represented the nation at the 17th South Asian Management Forum (SAMF) 2026 in Thimphu, Bhutan. The forum focused on resilient leadership, innovation, and navigating South Asia's dynamic governance landscape amid economic volatility and technological shifts. • The Regional Paradox: Delegations discussed South Asia's deep development contradictions. While driving rapid global economic growth with world-class talent in STEM and ICT/BPM corridors (e.g., in India and Sri Lanka), the region paradoxically houses the world's largest concentration of multidimensional poverty, child malnutrition, and severe structural inequalities. • Agricultural Challenges: Agriculture remains critical, employing roughly 70% of South Asia's population and feeding 1.8 billion people. However, the sector is heavily constrained by climate-induced weather extremes and global supply chain vulnerabilities, threatening food security. • Key Proposals for Integration: Closing the infrastructure deficit to connect rural areas to urban hubs. Enhancing human capital through health, education, and boosting female labor force participation. Digital financial inclusion via regional fintech integration and cross-border digital payments. Creating a regional digital talent hub to allow seamless collaboration between tech and research professionals across South Asia. • Host Country Insights: Bhutan faces severe economic barriers despite its pioneering Gross National Happiness (GNH) index. Roughly 9% of its population has emigrated, leading to critical shortages. Persistent youth unemployment remains a challenge due to a lack of private sector opportunities, despite high literacy rates.