IT software to be second largest foreign exchange earner after RMG, seminar told
Tuesday, 9 July 2013
FE report
Bangladesh's growing software outsourcing business could be the second largest after the ready-made garment (RMG) export for earning foreign currency, if patronised by the government, speakers at a seminar in Dhaka said.
Currently along with the registered software developers and exporters, more than 50,000 freelance software exporters are outsourcing business and the number is growing every year.
This was disclosed by the participants at the seminar organised by the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) at a city hotel on Monday.
The seminar 'BASIS IT Marketing Forum 2013' was participated by a large number of IT professionals, officials, delegates from India and top level executives and representatives of IT corporate houses and software developing companies.
The speakers said Bangladesh is growing rapidly in terms of knowledge in IT and the new generation entrepreneurs are investing money in this business.
After RMG, this knowledge-based sector could earn huge foreign currencies and might make the country dependent on the technology-based industry.
Among other participants in the seminar were ICT Secretary Nazrul Islam Khan, Anand Tilak, regional head, Agency Business & Sales Development of Google South East Asia, Dr. Syed Ferhat Anwar, Professor, the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) of Dhaka University, Raihan Shamsi, CEO of GP IT and Kazi Monirul Kabir, Google Country Representative, Bangladesh.
The speakers said, "The IT industry in Bangladesh is an untapped mine and despite its potentialities, there is inadequate initiative from the government."
A large number of quality software developers are already working for the world's renowned corporate houses and the products are achieving Bangladesh branding, they said.
The BASIS Acting President Shameem Ahsan, Sudhir Nair, senior vice president & head of South Asia Grey Digital and Russel T Ahmed, secretary general of BASIS also spoke at the seminar.