Washington, DC , April 18: The two-day International Investment and Digital Finance Conference 2026, held on April 17–18 in Washington, DC, concluded with a strong call for building trust, enhancing policy transparency, and strengthening global investment cooperation across South Asia.  Organized by the U.S.-based nonprofit In Search of Root Foundation (ISORF), the conference brought together global policymakers, economists, entrepreneurs, and diaspora leaders to discuss the rapidly evolving digital economy, investment trends, and international collaboration.  In the opening session, Raihanul Islam Chowdhury, President of ISORF, described the conference as a significant step toward fostering global economic dialogue. “Digital finance is no longer the future—it is the present reality. Our goal is to build an inclusive, efficient, and interconnected global financial system,” he said.  The session was moderated by Mark Jaffe, CEO and President of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, who emphasized that sustainable investment depends on trust and coordination between public and private sectors.  Distinguished attendees included Karima M. Woods, Commissioner of the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking; Sara Brooks, Director of Business and Financial Services at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership; Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr., Senior Fellow at the Jackson School of Global Affairs at Yale University; Keith Andrew Perry, representative of the DC Chamber of Commerce; John Danilovich, global business leader; Tarun Kishnani, business executive; Major General Md. Hakimuzzaman, Vice Chairman of Trust Bank PLC; and Ambassador Osman Siddique, former U.S. Ambassador, among others.  A key highlight of the first day was the public–private dialogue session, where speakers emphasized that policy transparency and trust are essential for sustainable investment. Avik Sanwar Rahman, policy expert, noted that “investment can never be sustainable without policy transparency and trust,” while session chair Dr. Abdun Noor, former Lead Institutional Development Specialist at the World Bank, highlighted the importance of public–private dialogue as a driver of economic progress.  Experts including Raihan Elahi, business leader; Dr. Birupaksha Paul, Professor at the State University of New York; Kamal Quadir, Founder and CEO of bKash; and Mr. Md. Harun Ar Rashid, Director of the Foreign Exchange Policy Department at Bangladesh Bank, discussed digital finance, regulatory frameworks, and financial inclusion.  Additional contributions from Mr. Pradeep Ganguly, Founder and CEO of MKK-USA and former Chief Economist at the Maryland Department of Commerce; Mr. Bal K. Joshi, CEO of Xuno; and Mr. Sanjeev Joshipura, Executive Director of Indiaspora, focused on financial reforms and technology-driven growth.  The conference featured multiple thematic sessions on the second day, focusing on innovation, financial inclusion, and cross-border investment.

 The session titled “Future of Intelligent Banking: AI, Risk and Innovation in 2026” was moderated by Ms. Anika Rahman, Former Chief of Staff and Legislative Director, Virginia General Assembly, and included participation of  Dr. Chris Rodriguez, Assistant City Administrator of the District of Columbia, and Mr. Abubokor Hanip, Chancellor and Chairman of Washington University of Science & Technology among others.  The session on “Small Business Financing and Enterprise Growth Opportunities” included Mr. Suman Timsina, CEO of Everest Federal Credit Union, and Mr. Tahmeed Shahriad, CEO and Managing Director of BnB Family USA, Inc. and United Group Real Estate, Inc.  Another key discussion on

“Strengthening Investment Flows in the U.S. and South Asia: Challenges and Way Forward” featured Ms. Sarah Blanford, Senior Advisor at the United States Energy Association; Mr. Nikhil Bhatnagar, Chief Executive Officer of Auerbach Grayson; and Ms. Shamarukh Mohiuddin, Director at the Cadmus Group among others.  In addition, Mr. Michael S. Edwards, Attorney-at-Law, contributed insights on cross-border transactions for credit unions and financial institutions.  Earlier on the second day, discussions also centered on regulation, AI-driven banking, risk management, and South Asia’s investment landscape. Major General Md. Hakimuzzaman emphasized the importance of strong financial supervision, accountability, and governance to ensure investor confidence.  Zafar Masud, President of the Bank of Punjab, presented a comparative economic outlook for Pakistan and Bangladesh. Md. Sarwar Hossain, Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank, highlighted Bangladesh’s economic progress, noting strong foreign exchange reserves, stable exchange rates, declining inflation, and investor-friendly policies.

 Hussain M. Elius, Founder of Pathao and Fin.com, shared key insights on the regional investment climate, highlighting varying regulatory environments and growing digital readiness across South Asia, while emphasizing Bangladesh’s expanding digital infrastructure and investment potential within the region.  A key highlight of the program was the USA–South Asia Digital Finance & Investment Excellence Award 2026, presented during the closing segment of the conference’s second day. The award recognized five leading organizations and institutions from the United States, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, along with a special individual recognition for strengthening USA–South Asia relations in finance, investment, and economic cooperation.

The award honored two organizations from the United States—Mastercard, represented by Chris Bartran, Vice President, Product Management; and the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, represented by CEO and President Mark Jaffe; two from Bangladesh—bKash, represented by Founder Kamal Quadir; and Trust Bank PLC, represented by Vice Chairman Major General Md. Hakimuzzaman, SGP, ndc, afwc, psc; and one from Pakistan—the Bank of Punjab, represented by President Zafar Masud—for their outstanding contributions to international trade, digital finance, innovation, and investment collaboration across regions.

 A special recognition was presented to Ambassador Osman Siddique, American politician, former U.S. Ambassador, and author based in Washington, DC, for his significant contribution to strengthening economic and diplomatic ties between the United States and South Asia.  The awards were presented by Hanif Channa, Minister for Trade and Investment, Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, DC; Md. Sarwar Hossain, Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank; and Raihanul Islam Chowdhury, President of In Search of Root Foundation (ISORF).  Following the award ceremony, the conference continued with a cultural segment, celebrating diversity and strengthening people-to-people connections among participating nations.

 With participation from representatives of the United States, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Nepal, the conference reinforced the growing economic ties between South Asia and the global economy.  The overarching message of the conference was clear: building trust, ensuring transparency, and fostering cooperation are essential to creating a resilient and inclusive global investment ecosystem, with South Asia continuing to emerge as a promising and investment-friendly region