Calls for stronger banking integration to grow $1.5 billion digital exports
BACCO Seeks Policy Push for ITES Exports
- BACCO highlights export potential of Bangladesh's ITES sector
- Calls for seamless banking access for freelancers' foreign earnings
- Commerce Ministry pledges policy support for digital service exports
Bangladesh Association of Contact Center and Outsourcing (BACCO) has urged stronger policy support to accelerate the country's IT-enabled services (ITES), business process outsourcing (BPO) and freelancing sectors, emphasizing that streamlined banking access and skilled workforce development are essential to expanding digital service exports.
The recommendations were presented by BACCO President Tanvir Ibrahim at a Commerce Ministry meeting on setting Bangladesh's export targets for FY2026-27 and exploring strategies to expand exports.
Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir attended the meeting on 26 July, Sunday as chief guest, while Commerce Secretary Md. Ataur Rahman Khan, chaired the session.
Tanvir Ibrahim said Bangladesh's BPO, freelancing and ITES industries currently generate around US$1.5 billion in annual export earnings. He noted that with supportive policies, easier market access, improved business conditions and skilled human resources, the sector could become one of the country's leading export industries within the next few years.
He also highlighted the growing global demand for AI-powered services, BPO, knowledge process outsourcing (KPO), digital customer experience (CX) and software-based services, calling for stronger public-private collaboration to capitalize on these opportunities.
In a separate meeting with the Commerce Minister and Commerce Secretary, the BACCO president pointed out that a significant portion of export earnings from the ITES and outsourcing sector still does not enter Bangladesh through formal banking channels.
He proposed integrating freelancers' digital identities with the banking system to simplify the repatriation of foreign earnings through official channels, adding that coordinated action involving Bangladesh Bank, the ICT Division, the Commerce Ministry and BACCO could deliver a practical and sustainable solution.
The Commerce Minister and Commerce Secretary assured BACCO of the ministry's full support for policy reforms aimed at strengthening the ITES and outsourcing industry, increasing export earnings and creating more technology-driven employment opportunities.
BACCO expressed optimism that greater policy attention to the digital services sector would further strengthen Bangladesh's BPO and ITES industries, boost foreign exchange earnings and accelerate the country's digital economic growth.
//DBTech/BCA/SME//
