Thrust on hi-tech manufacturing ecosystem

Tech experts during a webinar on Friday underscored the need for developing a hi-tech manufacturing ecosystem in Bangladesh in a bid to ensure desired economic growth.
Enhancing new skills in line with the latest technologies is also imperative to attract foreign investment and generate employment here, they said.
The observations were made on the second day of the three-day webinar styled 'Beyond 2020' co-hosted by the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) and Inspiring Bangladesh, a social networking site.
BHTPA managing director Hosne Ara Begum and ICT division senior secretary NM Zeaul Alam, among others, joined the webinar, according to a statement.
The experts discussed various facilities provided by the government for investing in hi-tech parks.
Ms Begum said five hi-tech parks are fully ready now for investment while others are getting prepared.
"At present, several industries are operating on 355 acres of land inside Bangabandhu Hi-tech City at Kaliakoir, Gazipur. Some of them are also exporting," she cited.
The ICT-based economic conclaves have drawn more than $500-million investment from local and international investors.
Global giants like Samsung and Nokia are preparing to start operations in the parks, disclosed the BHTPA executive.
Addressing the virtual event, Mr Alam said Bangladesh will require modern technology-based manufacturing instead of labour-intensive one for economic recovery in the post-Covid-19 period.
Other panellists were Sultan Lootah, chairman of UAE-based Vault Investment, Md Muiz Tasnim Taqui, associate vice-president at Ernst & Young, Bangladesh, and Bijon Islam, chief of research firm LightCastle Partners.
The webinar 'Beyond 2020' was organised as part of the authorities' efforts to attract investments in the hi-tech parks highlighting the advancement Bangladesh made in efficiency, startups and so on.
The authorities' incentives for investors, one-stop services and other facilities came into focus at the webinar.
Bangladesh is the best favourable destination for foreign investment in South Asia. It is a head of nine emerging investment destinations including India in the indices on incentive package, human resource development, infrastructure, favourable terms on exports, diplomatic ties with leading consumer countries, the speakers said at the webinar.
They said South Asia will be in a favourable position as the new investment destinations in view of the US-China tensions.
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