The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) will be the second largest thrust sector of Bangladesh by 2021, hoped Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith.

Addressing as Chief Guest the inaugural ceremony of BASIS SoftExpo09 Muhith also pleaded the stakeholders to work together for the development of the ICT sector.

Commerce Minister Lt Col (Retd) M Faruk Khan and State Minister for the Ministry of Science and ICT Architect Yafesh Osman also addressed the ceremony, held at the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre (BSFCC) yesterday.

Muhith said that he dreamt of a country by 2021 when ICT would be the second largest moneymaking industry. "ICT will also be the second largest job providing industry where a huge number of people will make their fortune" he said.

To make the dream come true he called upon all the stakeholders and young generation to cooperate to draw a effective roadmap for the government.

If all the activities of the government can be computerized, transparency will be ensured and corruption will be reduced largely, he said.

Addressing the officials of Bangladesh Software and Information Service (BASIS), organiser of the exposition, he called upon to develop software. "No improvement is possible unless we engage in more software developing activities."

Finance Minister also called upon the stakeholders to engage in hardware manufacturing business. "In this era of globalization, nothing is manufactured by one country. Different parts of a product are manufactured in the different countries. We can participate in the hardware production market" said Muhith.

Referring to the three ministers including himself on the dais Faruk Khan said that his government was committed to fulfill the pledge "Digital Bangladesh by 2021" of manifesto.

Earlier the BASIS President emphasised on four pillars- marketing, infrastructure facilities, skill manpower development and banking support for the development of the ICT sector.

Mentioning that Commerce Minister said all the four pillars were included in the election manifesto of Awami League.

Yafesh Osman said ICT had become essential for the modernization of the country.

BASIS honoured Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Vice Chancellor of Brac University and Sohel Ahmed Choudhury, Founding Chairman of ICT Business Promotion Council as ICT champion on the occasion.

Ninetythree local and international companies including software firms from USA, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Russia are displaying their products in the fair at 156 stalls in 9 pavilions this year. The expo will also include seminars, workshops, roundtable conference where eminent experts, political leaders, policy makers will participate in this five day long fair.

The fair is opened from 10 am to 8 pm for the visitors. The ticket price is fixed at Tk 20. Student will get free access.

The fair is divided into some zones- business software, outsourcing, multimedia, animation and games, mobile and wireless technology, Bengali software and service, e-commerce, e-governance, hardware technology, telecommunication and networking, ITS and BPO, IT education and ICT development.

BASIS President Habibullah N Karim, said as a platform of interaction between different groups including software providers, buyers, IT users, professionals, media, policy makers, development partners and students BASIS SoftExpo09 would showcase the huge potentials in resources and skills available in Bangladesh.

Among others, Oddvar Hesjedal, CEO of Grameenphone Limited, MA Mubin Khan, Director and A Towhid Chairman of Standing Committee on National Events of BASIS were also addressed the ceremony.