Palak presented the outline of Smart Bangladesh at the Tech Accelerator Program in Brussels
"Tech Accelerator Program 2023" started in Brussels, Belgium, a Western European country on Tuesday. The conference was organized by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, founded by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Technology sector policymakers from different countries around the world joined the conference. The conference discussed 'Sustainable Vision of the 21st Century' and 'Shaping Economic Growth Plans'. The session highlighted what should be a state's vision on achieving increased efficiency of public services, achieving per capita income, achieving robust economic growth, incrementally increasing GDP participation in ICT and adopting technological developments towards industrial revolution. Smart technology to identify and verify citizen's identity on mobile instead of passport is shown. Citizen's smart ID and economic development have gained importance.
Joining the 'A Leaders for the Future' session of the conference, the ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak highlighted the development of Bangladesh in the use of technology and digital transformation. He said that his government is going through positive changes with determination in this regard. Transforming from a mere service provider to an inclusive service provider. The efficiency of government services and economy is constantly improving. At the same time, private sector participation is also being ensured in these cases. This is how momentum has paved the way for an economy that is sustainable. For every citizen moving towards a progressive, inclusive society with zero poverty and zero digital divide through development of moral and secular values.
This is how we are ready to work with our global partners around the world to move the country towards a better knowledge-based economy and become a high-income nation, said Palak.
In his speech, ICT State Minister shed light on the target of becoming a high-middle-income country by 2031 and a high-income country by 2041 after the implementation of the Digital Bangladesh vision of 2021. In this regard, he presented the real picture of digital government system, digital connectivity, human resource development and development of ICT industry in the last 15 years.
The state minister also said that the government has decided more than 40 mega projects under the four pillars of implementing the Smart Bangladesh vision. And 15 sub-committees have been formed under the Smart Bangladesh Task Force to implement those projects. Smart workforce is at the top of all these. Palak believes that through public-private joint partnership, progressive technology-skilled manpower innovation initiatives, the total productivity per person (PFP) of the country will increase by two and a half percent; the tax revenue will increase by 22 percent in the ratio of gross domestic product, and a 100% financial inclusion society with climate disaster tolerance will be developed.
Participating in the conference, the ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak attended a bilateral meeting with the top leaders including Peter Kyle, Shadow Secretary for Science, Innovation and Technology of the United Kingdom. Business expansion in the technology sector, investment in Bangladesh, joint efforts to build a cashless economy and exchange of innovative initiatives besides digital governance were discussed in the meeting.
Angola Institute of Administrative Modernization CEO Meick Afonso; Moldova, Deputy Prime Minister Dumitru Alaiba; Zambia's National Digital Transformation Adviser Percy Chinima; Singapore's Ministry of Information and Communications Joint Secretary Guenda Fong; Morocco's Digital Transformation and Advisor to the Ministry of Administrative Reforms Abdellah Jalili; Mirlinda Karkanaj, Director of NAIS of Albania; Romania Kostani, Director of E-Gov Promotion of Albania; Dimitris Papasterzias, Mayor of Greece; Wes Streeting, Shadow Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Security of the United Kingdom and others were present in the "Tech Accelerator Program 2023".
