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Bangladesh’s ICT Sector Given a Boost by CFTC

9 June 2005

Networking the Commonwealth for Development
 "As a result of this training programme, the country's ICT sector is in a position to brace itself for the competitive challenges ahead."
Some 100 executives from Bangladesh's information and communications technology (ICT), banking and finance sectors have benefited from a training programme on the 'Development of Small Business ICT Strategies in Bangladesh'. This Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC) national capacity-building initiative was held in Dhaka, the capital, on 28-31 May 2005. Bangladesh's Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology partnered with the Commonwealth Secretariat on this programme, which focused on the development of human resources, marketing, best practices and standardisation to enhance the country's national ICT strategy.

Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Bangladesh's Minister for Science and ICT, stated: "As a result of this training programme, the country's ICT sector is in a position to brace itself for the competitive challenges ahead. I am extremely pleased with the support we have received from the Secretariat, the project consultants and industry stakeholders, including bankers. Such an initiative has been unprecedented in the history of Bangladesh's ICT sector. It will no doubt be a trend-setter." He said this at a certification ceremony for trainees on 31 May 2005. The Minister noted that ICT plays an important role in the socio-economic development of Bangladesh, and that young people stand to benefit from their competence in the use of computers and technology.

Dr Khan had earlier inaugurated two pilot ICT access centres in Narsingdi district on 30 May to help small businesses have access to business opportunities, besides providing training facilities for the local population, especially for women and young people. He said that the term 'ICT' can also be an acronym for 'I-am-Computer-Trained'.

Bangladesh is shortly enacting its Information Technology Law and putting in place added measures that will create an enabling environment for ICT development. The country's annual ICT export industry stands at US$15 million, and the Government is targeting greater growth in this sector. At present, Bangladesh has less than 700 ICT enterprises, with only 0.1 per cent of its businesses focused in the ICT sector.

A Secretariat study has recommended that Bangladesh should introduce laws to regulate the ICT sector and develop the sector nationwide. It also advocates the adoption of a prudent policy framework to enhance the capacity of ICT-based small and medium enterprises to meet local demand as well as service foreign markets. The establishment of venture capital funds for ICT and the promotion of electronic commerce would also enhance Bangladesh's goal of socio-economic development.

George Saibel, Director of the Secretariat's Special Advisory Services Division, which manages this CFTC project to promote ICT in Bangladesh, said: "Bangladesh has many positive attributes to develop a successful and competitive ICT sector. We are happy to note that the Government of Bangladesh is developing an enabling framework, which is crucial to achieve this goal."

A follow-up ICT training programme will be held in Dhaka in August 2005. This will include a 'Training-the-Trainers' programme.

 

CNIS - the Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 238, 8 June 2005

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