a2i and Bangladesh team at ITEX international competition in Malaysia
ITEX 2023, a well-known event in the international arena of knowledge and technology, began in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia; ITEX, the International Invention, Innovation, and Technology Exhibition, is being held this year for the 34th time. On May 11 and 12, Aspire to Innovate-a2i of the ICT Division of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Team participated in this two-day-long competition. Mr Mohammad Golam Sarwar, Honorable High Commissioner of Bangladesh posted in Malaysia, visited the venue of ITEX 2023 on Thursday and announced the official opening of six booths of the Bangladesh team.
He visited every stall of the Bangladesh booth. The Honorable High Commissioner inquired about the preparations of the Bangladesh team and wished the team success. He termed each project from Bangladesh that participated in the competition as a timely and important initiative to combat climate change and said, 'Our government's journey for 2041 Smart Bangladesh has already started, and new technological innovations have a lot of roles to play. The participation of Bangladesh's private technology institutions in science and technology-related exhibitions and competitions that are very famous and recognized at the international level, like ITEX, is truly commendable. Along with this, the participation of Aspire to Innovate-a2i of the ICT Division of the Bangladesh government as a technical consultant in this year's ITEX is an example of the smart and visionary attitude of the current government in building a science-minded Bangladesh.
Every year, people from various sectors of the economy, including inventors, investors, venture capital institutions, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and suppliers, gather around this ITEX. It should be noted that more than 500 innovation projects from at least 15 countries around the world and more than 5000 visitors from 75 countries participated in the last year of ITEX. In this year's event as well, domestic and foreign organizations and visitors are already seen moving with the same spontaneity throughout the venue.
a2i is a key driving force in realizing the Digital Bangladesh dream of the Bangladesh government and is currently working on building a Smart Bangladesh in 2041. a2i has also participated in the past at ITEX 2018 and 2019 with its own innovations and received special international honors for one project, including three gold and six bronze awards. Later, a2i played a key role in making ITEX known and popular among innovative technology-based entrepreneurs in the private sector in Bangladesh. In line with that, Aspire to Innovate-a2i of the Bangladesh Government's ICT Department is acting as technical advisor to the Bangladesh team participating in ITEX 2023.
It is to be noted that Aspire to Innovate-a2i, which is being implemented under the Cabinet Division and the Information and Communication Technology Division and managed with the support of UNDP, is currently carrying out various innovative activities to build Smart Bangladesh.
At this year's ITEX, six private innovative technology-based companies from Bangladesh are representing Bangladesh in the exhibition and competition at ITEX 2023, with their own funding and technical consultancy services from a2i. The companies are Amar Pay, Bangla Track, Bangla Traders, EGuardian, Cultour, and Zynax. In this ongoing competition today and tomorrow, the best projects in various categories will be awarded gold, silver, and bronze awards through the jury panel. a2i is hopeful that the Bangladesh team will be able to return to the country with a very good achievement from ITEX 2023, a prestigious international science and technology competition.
On the 2nd and final day of the exhibition, the panel discussion on technology to be held tomorrow, May 12, 'TechTalk' will have the cooperation and representation of the Bangladesh High Commission along with entrepreneurs and expert speakers from the information and communication technology sector of Bangladesh, noting that the Bangladesh team in the main innovation competition of ITEX 2023 Good luck to the honourable high commissioner. At the end of his speech, he announced that the Bangladesh High Commission will fully support a2i in the organization of ITEX every year. On behalf of the Bangladesh High Commission, Counselor (Political) and Head of Embassy, Farhana Ahmed Chowdhury; Counselor (Consular), GM Russell Rana; First Secretary (Commerce), Pranab Kumar Ghosh; Head of Commercial Strategy Division of a2i, Mr. Rezwanul Haque Jami; Device Innovation Specialist of a2i, Mr. Taufiqur Rahman; Head of Technology Department of Ekshop, Mr. Sohail Rana; and other local senior government officials were present.
