Walton, TSS to supply 85,000 laptops to govt

Local conglomerate Walton Group and Telephone Shilpa Sangstha Limited (TSS) will supply 85,000 laptop computers to the government for setting up Sheikh Russel Digital Labs in 5,000 educational institutions across the country.
The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase on Thursday approved a proposal of the Department of Information and Communication Technology for setting up the said labs.
The procurement will cost the exchequer Tk 4.872 billion, under which the contractors will also supply and install 5,000 web cameras, 5,000 routers, 5,000 network switches, and other information technology (IT) equipments.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Cabinet Division Additional Secretary Dr. Sahida Akter, however, could not give details on these, like - the price of each laptop and configuration etc.
Meanwhile, sources said Walton Group and TSS got the job for supplying the laptops under a project. Of the total, Walton Group would supply 70,000 laptops, while TSS will supply 15,000 laptops.
Deputy managing director of Walton Digi-Tech Industries Ltd Liakat Ali told the FE that their company would supply metal-bodied laptop computers with Core i7 processor, each of which would cost them Tk 55,000 on an average.
Laptop computers of global brands with the said specifications would cost at least Tk 70,000 each.
"Winning the tender at such a price (Tk 55,000) was very challenging. The capability of local companies in supplying IT products was proved with the purchase committee's approval on Thursday," he added.
The committee meeting, with Finance Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal in the chair, also approved a proposal of the Public Works Department regarding construction of officers' club at Bailey Road in Dhaka.

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