Foreign Affairs ministry will help BASIS for country branding regarding the export of software and IT professionals abroad. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam assured to BASIS in his speech at ‘Ambassadors’ Night’ programme of ‘BASIS SoftExpo 2023’.
Speakers at ‘Ambassadors’ Night’ programme of ‘BASIS SoftExpo 2023’ sought active supports from foreign ambassadors, stationed in Dhaka, so that the volume of export of Bangladeshi software abroad is increased more.
Bangladesh is already exporting its software and ITES services to various parts of the world. Steps need to be taken now to further increase the volume of export, and the envoys stationed in Dhaka can play an important role in this regard, they said.
They observed these while addressing a session titled ‘Ambassadors’ Night’ at a hall at Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre at Purbachal in Dhaka this (Saturday) evening.
As part of the four-day mega show ‘BASIS SoftExpo 2023’, the session mainly a panel discussion, was held today.
On the third day of the exhibition, Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), the national trade body for software & IT enabled service industry of Bangladesh, organized the panel discussion today.
Moderated by Mahfuz Anam, editor of the Daily Star, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, European Union Ambassador in Dhaka Charles Whitley, Australian Ambassador Jeremy Bruer, Denmark Ambassador Winnie Estaup Peteasen, BASIS President Russell. T Ahmed took part in the discussion.
In his welcome address, the BASIS President described about Bangladesh’s huge potentialities and capacities in the IT sector, which is capable of surpassing the contribution of Bangladesh’s readymade garment sector.
Referring to the objective of organizing the mega exposition this year, he said, it is aimed at showing our capacities and innovations in the IT sector and drawing attention for local and foreign markets for using our IT services.
In his address, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam thanked BASIS for organizing ‘BASIS SoftExpo’ as well as contributing to the growth of the country’s ICT sector alongside the government.
Terming ICT as a priority sector, the minister said Bangladesh is hopeful of achieving its target of earning five billion Dollars as export from the IT sector by 2025.
He said that teaching of coding has been introduced at the primary school level in Bangladesh, which is fantastic. He said the government will support BASIS regarding the export of software and IT professionals abroad. We will also work with BASIS in realizing the vision of Smart Bangladesh, he added.
The minister assured BASIS of extending his ministry’s support for promoting ICT.
Later at the programme, BASIS president in his speech sought support of all concerned for opening help desk and other supports abroad particularly in EU and Australia for promoting the export of IT services abroad. He also sought the support of the mass media in this regard.
In his speech, the Australian envoy said, we see Bangladesh as a country full of potentials, including in its IT sector. Collaboration between Australia and Bangladesh in different fields, including in ICT, is increasing gradually. IT can be a field for cooperation.
The EU Ambassador, in his address, told that IT is a field where there can be collaboration between the EU and Bangladesh. We can think of future collaboration in the field in the days to come.
In her address, the Denmark Ambassador lauded the progress made regarding the digital transformation of Bangladesh, saying that there is a possibility of growth in the ICT sector in Bangladesh.
In his speech, Mahfuz Anam expressed his full support regarding the views made at the session about the potentialities of our IT sector, saying that we think BASIS as partner in this regard.
He expressed his commitment to the sector and thanked BASIS for organizing the important session to promote the sector.