IT investments getting priority

A four-day ICT fair will kick off the city today (Monday) to promote and brand locally produced digital technology.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the Digital World 2015, regarded as one of the largest ICT (information and communication technology) expositions in South Asia, at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city.
A total of 220 stalls including 100 government agencies and organizations, will take part in the fair.
The ICT ministry and Bangladesh Association for Software and Information Services (BASIS) are jointly organising the event to promote the local IT products globally.
"The core objective of the ICT exposition is to brand Bangladeshi IT products and attract large scale investment in this sector," said Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for the ICT Division under the ministry of post, telecommunication and information technology.
The junior minister was speaking Sunday at pre-fair a press conference in the city, detailing the ministry's preparation to host the mega event.
He said some 85 top global IT leaders representing 25 countries, including those are from Facebook and Google will speak at different brainstorming seminars and conferences.
Mr Palak said the exposition is expected to generate some Tk 107 million, of which Tk 80 million from the government fund.
The rest of the money will be generated from private business and sponsors.
Mr Palak said they have taken additional security measures to ensure smooth visit of the visitors.  The exposition will remain open from 10:00 am to 8:00pm every day and the entry of the visitors is free.
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