http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=105550
Minister pitches IT prospect
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan speaks at the launch of a seminar on “Outsource to Bangladesh”, organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry at the CIO (Chief Information Officers) Summit of IT Executives on Wednesday in Arizona, USA. FBCCI
Star Business Desk
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan has said the government is offering a string of facilities, including reduced tax, to develop the country’s information technology sector to establish a Digital Bangladesh.
The minister was speaking at the launch of a seminar on “Outsource to Bangladesh”, organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry at the CIO (Chief Information Officers) Summit of IT Executives on September 9-10 in Arizona, USA. US-based Mi3 was a co-organiser.
Branding the IT industry as a thrust sector, the minister said Bangladesh boasts about 25,000 IT engineers.
More than 6,000 software engineers are entering the IT sector a year from 90 universities and 700 colleges.
The seminar was also attended by FBCCI President Annisul Huq and IT professional Sajeeb Wazed Joy as representatives from Bangladesh.
They presented “situation papers” on the IT sector in Bangladesh.
In his speech, Joy highlighted the future plans of the government to develop the IT sector and its various programmes, including Wimax technology, expansion of submarine cable, establishment of IT parks and the construction of infrastructure.
Joy mentioned that Bangladesh is capable of offering quality products in competitive prices, compared with nearest competitors such as India, Indonesia and Vietnam.
He urged IT entrepreneurs to invest in the IT sector in Bangladesh, as the government is ready to provide the best facilities to the foreign investors.
“The young generation of Bangladesh is highly educated in English. Bangladesh is considered an ideal place for establishing software companies, call centres and other IT-related services,” Joy told the seminar.
Annisul Huq invited IT entrepreneurs to attend IT fairs in Bangladesh to get an idea about the IT sector.
The FBCCI chief hoped the seminar would play an effective role in developing and expanding the IT sector.
IT Executives of Microsoft, Unisil, Coca-Cola, Cisco, Bank of America, Austin Energy, Radio Shack, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Wells Fargo and Millennium Net were present at the seminar.
