Strengthening State-Owned Tech and Telecom Sectors: Government Explores New Investment Avenues
The government is working to open new investment channels through public-private partnerships (PPP) or government-to-government (G2G) models to strengthen state-owned enterprises in the technology and telecommunications sectors. This initiative was highlighted by Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, during a meeting with European Union Ambassador Michael Miller at the Dak Bhaban in Agargaon on Sunday.
The meeting was attended by Secretary of the ICT Division, Shish Haider Chowdhury, along with the heads of various government agencies.
During the discussion, Taiyeb stated, "We have prepared a draft version of the master plan for digital transformation and the ICT roadmap. Similar roadmaps for each state-owned enterprise will be presented to the nation. We are advancing with ten key pillars, including the digitalization of government services, decentralization, and institutional capacity enhancement. Additionally, we have a broad vision regarding data exchange and data governance, and we are emphasizing the development of digital public infrastructure." He also mentioned ongoing work on the Cyber Security Ordinance and the Personal Data Protection Act.
When Ambassador Miller inquired about the digital transformation strategy, Taiyeb responded, "Stakeholder consultations will be conducted for the master plan of the digital transformation strategy. We expect it to take shape by mid-year."
Regarding the Personal Data Protection Act, Taiyeb noted, "We will continue working on it for some time before gathering public opinion in four stages. First, we will engage with business representatives, followed by local business representatives, human rights organizations, and journalists. Lastly, we will seek inter-ministerial feedback. Our goal is to enhance ICT and cybersecurity resources, not just within government institutions but also across all law enforcement agencies and public sector employees. We are also focusing on Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) and workforce skill development, and we look forward to training support from the EU and the e-Governance team." He also encouraged the EU Ambassador to invest in Bangladesh’s technology sector.
According to meeting sources, Ambassador Miller discussed policy frameworks, EU investments, project financing, and workforce training. He stated, "The EU is a highly reliable development partner for Bangladesh and is ready to invest in the country." Additionally, he invited Taiyeb to participate in the upcoming Global Gateway Forum in Brussels.
