The country is expected to fetch $1 billion export earnings from the ICT sector within the next 5 years, Prime Minister’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy has said.
Joy, son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and grandson of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has come up with the hope while speaking as the chief guest at a view exchange meeting at Bangladesh Computer Council auditorium in the capital on Saturday, reports BSS.
"I have received foreign investor's commitment to $100 million investment in the country's ICT sector," he said.
Joy hoped that the export earnings from the ICT sector would cross the ready-made garments sector in the future.
Referring to the Awami League government's various initiatives for the greater interest of the people, he said the government has already introduced the third generation (3G) internet service and it would provide the fourth generation (4G) services soon.
"To materialise the government's vision, all the government services would be digitised by 2021 and the service receivers would be able to finish their official works from their houses," the ICT expert said.
The ICT advisor said the government has also plans to bring all villages under internet service and set up more union information service centres (UISCs) for providing internet services to the people.
Joy said the ministry has taken initiatives to train up freelancers for developing skilled manpower in the ICT sector.
Currently 5 lakh freelancers are working in the sector and the number has to be increased, he mentioned.
"I will talk to Bangladesh Bank Governor about loan facilities for the freelancers, as Bank usually provides loans on mortgage," he added.
Sajeeb Wazed Joy said the government has a plan to upgrade all union information service centres (UISCs) to video call centres within the next 5 years.
Joy suggested that the young generation should engage themselves in the IT profession to earn more remittance for the betterment of the country's economy.
Bangladesh Computer Council organised the meeting on ‘Building Digital Bangladesh’.
The ICT expert exchanged his views with field level ICT entrepreneurs, freelancers, government officials and the Access to Information (A2I) Programme.
