Collaborative efforts key to higher IT export

The ICT industry, academia and government should collaborate on research and development while also promoting the sector and building skilled human resources to fuel IT service exports, according to experts.

Russell T Ahmed, president of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), yesterday outlined this formula during the inauguration of the four-day BASIS SoftExpo 2023.

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While Bangladesh has made impressive development in the ICT sector in the last few years, the country could still do a lot better.

"So, we need to establish a research mechanism to identify our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats," he said.

Ahmed then said it is possible to raise IT exports from Bangladesh to $5 billion by 2025 and $20 billion by 2031.

"But to do so, we have to remember that it is a business in which we have to compete with India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Poland, Estonia and Ukraine," he added.

Ahmed went on to say that the second thing to do would be aggressive industry promotion.

Although the government trusts in the capability of local firms, confidence in the local market has not grown to the required level.

"Besides, we need to deepen our strength in the international market properly so that global players can consider Bangladesh as an ICT destination," he said.

Visitors make queries at a stall of BASIS SoftExpo 2023 in the capital yesterday. Photo: Collected

The third most important thing that needs to be done is building skilled human resources in the ICT sector.

"We are facing an intense shortage of human resources, which is the only raw material for the ICT industry. We fail to hire three people after interviewing 300 candidates," Ahmed said.

"Despite many initiatives, we have failed to overcome this weakness or even comprehend it, making it the key barrier to our advancement," he added.

With this backdrop, Ahmed urged higher-ups in the government to give the ICT industry the opportunity to engage in the execution of the country's ICT policies.

Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, speaker of parliament, inaugurated the exhibition at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Dhaka's Purbachal.

Mustafa Jabbar, minister for post and telecommunication, and Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for ICT, were present as special guests.

Chaudhury said the prime minister would consider the proposal of the BASIS president if it bears fruit for the people.

"Dependency on software is increasing every day. There is no substitute for software in building a smart Bangladesh," she added.

Chaudhury hoped that BASIS members would contribute the most in this regard.

Over 200 stalls have already been installed at the fair, where software and IT-enabled service companies in the country are displaying their technological advancements to attract local and global clients.

The exposition houses two large business lounges, a shuttle bus service for visitors, gaming zones and many other conveniences.

Around 80 foreign delegates and businesses are participating in the business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking sessions.

The fair is focusing on creating more collaborative relationships at the national and international levels while also inviting trade delegations from other countries to experience the immense potential of the local ICT industry.

An IT job fair and career camp, B2B matchmaking, outsourcing conference, startup conference, developers' conference and ministerial conference are taking place at the four-day event.

Nearly a dozen seminars and dialogues are being held with policymakers, ICT business leaders, national and international speakers, influencers, and motivators set to hold discussions under one roof.

These sessions are focusing on issues such as awareness and capacity-building programmes, e-commerce, cybersecurity, strength of the local ICT industry, human resource development, the scope for industry-academia collaboration, 4IR, and digital marketing.

Students from five universities, including the University of Dhaka, Brac University and Comilla University, are displaying their robots at the fair as well.