The United Kingdom (UK) is keen to collaborate with Bangladesh for the development of its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. It was said at a meeting of British High Commissioner to Bangladesh H. E. Robert Chatterton Dickson with the Executive Council of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) on Wednesday at BASIS Boardroom.
H. E. Robert Chatterton Dickson said, “We are interested in working with Bangladesh for Human Resources (HR) capacity development and organizing Business-to-Business (B2B) matchmaking sessions for the development of the ICT sector.” He conveyed his interest to give necessary support in organizing roadshows in the UK and Bangladesh in this regard and connect ICT sector of Bangladesh with its counterpart in the UK. He also wants to encourage Bangladeshi diaspora in the UK to work for the development of ICT sector of Bangladesh.
At the meeting, BASIS President Russell T. Ahmed said, “Our Honurable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared ‘ICT as product of the year’ for this year on 01 January 2022. Aligning with that, BASIS has started working to excel the ICT industry further focusing on five pillars- HR capacity development, startup ecosystem, local market development, US$ 5 billion export earnings to achieve, and industry promotion.”
At this stage, BASIS President mentioned that the annual flagship event of the industry, BASIS SoftExpo 2022, will be held in Dhaka physically this year where entrepreneurs from the UK can exhibit their products and participate in various activities like- seminars, B2B matchmaking sessions, tech talks and so on.
The meeting was attended by Acting Head of Trade and Investment of British High Commission Khalid Gaffar, Trade and Investment Officer of British High Commission Abir Barua, BASIS Vice President (Admin) Abu Daud Khan, BASIS Vice President (Finance) Fahim Ahmed, BASIS Directors- Habibullah Neyamul Karim, Director AKM Ahmedul Islam BABU, Director Syed Mohammad Kamal, Director Tanvir Hossain Khan, Director Rashad Kabir, among others.