BSS, Dhaka :
Prime Minister’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy Saturday said the country is expected to fetch US$ 1 billion export earnings from the ICT sector within the next 5 years.
“I have received foreign investor’s commitment to US$ 100 million investment in the country’s ICT sector,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at a view exchange meeting at Bangladesh Computer Council auditorium in the city. Bangladesh Computer Council organized the meeting on Building Digital Bangladesh.
The ICT expert exchanged his views with field level ICT entrepreneurs, freelancers, government officials and the Access to Information (A2I) Programme.
State Minister for ICT Junaid Ahmed Palok highlighted the government’s initiatives and various projects to accelerate the ICT growth. It was also addressed, among others, by chairman of parliamentary standing committee on ICT ministry Enam Ahmed, BASIS President Shamim Ahmed and project director of the A2I and director general of the Prime Minister’s Office Kabir Bin Anwar. Joy hoped that the export earnings from the ICT sector would cross the readymade garment sector in future.
Referring to the Awami League government’s various initiatives for the greater interest of the people, he said the government has already introduced third generation (3G) internet service and it would provide the fourth generation (4G) service soon.
“To materialize the government’s vision, all the government services would be digitized by 2021 and the service receivers would be able to finish their official works from their houses,” the ICT expert said.
The ICT advisor said the government has also plans to bring all villages under internet service and set up more union information service centres (UISCs) for providing internet services to people.
The ministry has taken initiatives to train up freelancers (self-employed person) for developing skilled manpower in the ICT sector, adding, “Currently 5 lakh freelancers are working in the sector and the number has to be increased,” Joy said.
“I will talk to Bangladesh Bank Governor about loan facilities for the freelancers, as Bank usually provides loans on mortgage,” he added.
Sajib Wazed Joy said the government has a plan to upgrade all union information service centres (UISCs) to video call centres within the next 5 years. The UISCs are providing 70 services to the people, he said.
He suggested the young generation to engage themselves in the IT profession to earn more remittance for the betterment of the country’s economy.
