Today, we visited SoftExpo 2008 and spent a number of hours there. There was a very important seminar in SoftExpo and some important persons came and talked there about software and ITES. Thanks to the media center of BASIS, we got a detailed press release.
Here is the press release from BASIS
Bangladesh Association of Software and Information services (BASIS) holds a seminar on “Infrastructure requirement to accelerate the growth of software and ITES Industry” on the occasion of BASIS SOFTEXPO 2008 today (16-02-08).
Brigadier General M A Malek (Retd.), Special Assistant to Honorable Chief Advisor, Ministry of Post and Telecommunication, was present at the seminar as the Chief Guest while Hua Du, country director Bangladesh residence mission, Asian Development Bank, Major General Manzurul Alam (retired), BTRC Chairman, S. M. Wahid-uz-Zaman, secretary, Ministry of science and information technology, Margub Morshed, former BTRC Chairman were present as special guests.
BASIS president Rafiqul Islam Rowly presented the key note at the seminar.
Speech by Message of Brigadier General M A Malek (Retd.), Special Assistant to Honorable Chief Advisor, Ministry of Post and Telecommunication
Distinguished Special Guests, Discussants, Key note presenter, discussants and participants -
I am very happy to be present here at today’s seminar which is discussing a very important issue for the development of the software and IT enabled service industry of the country. All of us know how important Information and Communication Technology has become for the development of the country. On the one hand, if the power of ICT can be harnessed rightly, it can significantly improve the productivity and performance of all the activities we do in every spheres of society. On the other hand we can directly use ICT for employment creation of a huge number of educated youth in the country who are currently unemployed. This we can do though involving thousands of our talented youth in different ITES jobs like Call centre, BPO, graphic designing, digitization etc. Our neighboring countries have successfully demonstrated that in recent times.
Dear Guests,
In the speech on the occasion of BASIS SoftExpo2008, the Honorable Chef Advisor Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed has specifically mentioned the bottlenecks of the development of ICT sector in the country. Among other things, he has mentioned about the importance of Infrastructure issue for the development of the sector. The current Government is fully aware of the problem in respect of infrastructure issue. And this Government is fully committed to work on this. You all know that, very recently, responding to the demand of Software industry, particularly by BASIS, government has recently reduced Internet Tariff by a maximum of 40%. And you know that the Chief Advisor has specifically mentioned in his speech that it can be reduced further if needed. This is a very specific step from the current government.
The importance of such line is felt heavily by all of us given the last two weeks of experience of sudden cut of the SEA ME WEA 4 line at
We know that redundancy of SUBMARINE cable is very important. You also know that recently BTTB has signed contract for establishing alternative fiber optic line from Cox’s Bazar to
Ladies and Gentleman,
You know that this government is very open to listen to suggestion of private sector. There is a public private initiative of “Better Business Forum” which has specific working group of “Infrastructure Development”. From our Ministry, we also welcome you to come up with specific suggestion that can help your industry.
Thank you.
Part of the Speech by Hua Du,
ADB has been promoting ICT development as a priority sector for regional cooperation under the Sub regional economic cooperation (SASEC) program involving
ICT provides powerful tools to fight against world poverty. We need to apply state-of-the-art modern ICT for quickening poverty reduction and improving the lives of poor and disadvantaged, particularly in the rural areas.
Access to digital technologies remains highly unequal globally, and even among the developing countries themselves. The three area identified by ADB for such strategic intervention include i) creating an enabling environment for ICT development, ii) building human resources iii) developing ICT applications and information content in ADB assisted projects.
Chairman of BTRC Major General Manzurul Alam (retired) said: mentioning the different measures taken by the government he said we want support you with regularatory facilitator.
The government is cordial to spread the ICT infrastructure facilities to the rural areas and the government would provide subsidy for the users at rural areas. The government is also thinking of issuing license for Call Centre at a nominal price to encourage the youth to come to this business.
He also invites foreign investors who want to work to spread the ICT facilities to rural areas.
The chairman of BTRC also said “if any private entrepreneur want to take connection of submarine cable the government will welcome the initiative.
Margub Morshed, former BTRC Chairman said, the private sector has all the potential to make ICT to have huge contribution for the economic growth of the country. The government should be more supporting to the private sector.
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