Bangladesh government sets up dual hubs for the ICT industry, a significant move to propel the digital economy forward.

Two Digital Economy hubs have been announced, strategically located within the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) and the Bangladesh Association of Contact Center and Outsourcing (BACCO) premises.

These hubs have been meticulously designed to create a supportive ecosystem for the digital economy, offering a range of essential services. Among the offerings are policy support, initiatives for upskilling and reskilling, and establishment of a Center of Excellence focused on digital technologies.

The momentous development was marked by the signing of two separate Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), a significant step forward in Bangladesh’s digital transformation journey.

The MoUs were established between the World Bank-funded Enhancing Digital Government Economy (EDGE) Project, led by the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC), and BASIS and BACCO.

The signing ceremony, held at the Bangladesh Computer Council auditorium, was graced by the presence of State Minister for ICT, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, and World Bank Regional Project Director, Pankaj Gupta.

The MoUs were signed by Nahid Sultana Mallik, EDGE Project Director; Russel T. Ahmed, BASIS President; and Wahid Sharif, BACCO President, on behalf of their respective organizations.

Speaking at the event, State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak underscored the remarkable strides Bangladesh has made in realizing the Digital Bangladesh vision.

He highlighted the substantial growth of the country’s digital economy and emphasized its alignment with the Smart Bangladesh vision initiated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

This vision aims to position Bangladesh as a dynamic and innovative nation by 2041.

The newly established hubs are expected to be pivotal in driving research and innovations based on frontier technologies.

The EDGE Project, a cornerstone of this initiative, seeks to equip 100,000 young graduates with skills in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, big data, blockchain, and 3D printing.

World Bank’s Pankaj Gupta emphasized the critical role of collaboration between the private sector, academia, and government in nurturing a thriving digital economy.

The collaboration further envisions selecting member companies for capacity development programs, policy research, innovation, and intellectual property initiatives in the software and IT sector.

This partnership also seeks to enhance stakeholder capabilities in the digital economy and foster collaborations with local and international organizations for knowledge and resource sharing.