The International Conference on Business and Technology (ICBT) officially opened at the University of Asia Pacific (UAP) campus, bringing scholars and professionals together to explore how business and technology can help achieve sustainable development. The two-day event began at UAP and will conclude at the University of Dhaka, and it offered a program filled with presentations, panels, and interactive sessions that aimed to share knowledge and spark partnerships. Organised by the School of Business at UAP, the Faculty of Business Studies at the University of Dhaka, and Germany’s Weiden Business School and Institute of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences, the conference welcomed around 250 participants from several countries and showcased more than 100 research papers on topics that link business strategy, digital tools, and social and environmental goals. Plenary sessions and ten keynote talks from international experts provided new perspectives on how firms and public bodies can use technology to reduce waste, support green jobs, improve services, and strengthen communities. Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud opened the program and highlighted how such meetings build useful bridges between researchers, industry leaders, and policy makers; his remarks focused on practical collaboration as a route to lasting progress. Speakers from universities and industry described real projects, tested methods, and clear steps that governments, firms, and schools can take now to combine profit with purpose. Special guests included Architect Mahbuba Haque, Chairperson of UAP’s Board of Trustees, Professor Dr Kamrul Ahsan, Vice-Chancellor of UAP, and Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) of the University of Dhaka, each of whom praised the partnerships and the student engagement the event encouraged. The conference was co-chaired by Professor Dr M. A. Baki Khalili of UAP, Dr Christiane Hellbach of OTH Amberg-Weiden in Germany, and Professor Dr Mahmud Osman Imam of Dhaka University, and the keynote paper was presented by Professor Dr S. R. Osmani of Ulster University, who offered insights into measuring the impact of technology on development outcomes. Sessions ranged from case studies and research findings to hands-on workshops where attendees discussed tools for tracking sustainability, managing data responsibly, and designing services that meet community needs. Organisers said the gathering aimed not only to share research but to nurture projects that outlast the conference, with crests exchanged to mark the partnerships and a vote of thanks delivered by Sarwar Razzak Chowdhury, head of UAP’s Business Administration department. Participants left with clearer ideas for joint projects, new contacts, and a shared sense that careful collaboration between business and technology can support sustainable growth.
