Human Capital Becomes a Key Driver of Competitiveness in the Economy of the Future

As part of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Annual Meeting and Business Forum, held on June 25–26, 2026 in Almaty, the EDB Academy hosted a business luncheon entitled “Human Capital 2050: How and What Should We Learn?”. More than 150 senior representatives of government institutions, international organizations, development banks and leading companies from across the region gathered to discuss the competencies that will define successful leadership and economic competitiveness in the decades ahead.

The discussion was moderated by Dr. Tariq Qureishy, futurist, organizational transformation expert, and Chairman & CEO of the Future Readiness Forum and Xponential. Maria Pavlova, Head of the EDB Academy, presented the key competencies and contemporary approaches to developing the leaders of the future.

The discussion focused on the future of leadership, education, and human capital in an era of rapid technological change. Participants explored how leadership expectations are evolving and which capabilities are becoming critical as artificial intelligence is increasingly integrated into economies and industries.

Evgeny Vinokurov, Deputy Chairman of the EDB, highlighted that human capital development is becoming one of the strategic priorities of multilateral development banks, complementing their investment activities.

"The competitiveness of countries in the coming decades will depend not only on access to technology, but also on the quality of leadership, a commitment to continuous learning, and the ability to make responsible decisions in conditions of high uncertainty. This is why it is increasingly important for today's leaders to understand how to invest their limited time to maximize their effectiveness. The quality of leadership in both the public and private sectors has a direct impact on the pace of economic development."

The key conclusion of the discussion was that artificial intelligence does not diminish the importance of human capital; rather, it makes it even more valuable. In the economy of the future, competitive advantage will be determined by the quality of leadership, the ability to learn continuously, strategic thinking, and the capacity to integrate knowledge from different disciplines to make effective decisions.