Move to provide 10pc cash incentive for IT freelancers

The information and communication technology (ICT) division has taken an initiative to provide 10 per cent cash incentive for IT freelancers as it will help boost foreign currencies earnings, officials said.

State minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak recently wrote a letter to commerce minister Tipu Munshi with a request to consider providing such a facility, saying that freelancers are an important part of the country's growing ICT sector.

Besides, the IT freelancers are making significant contributions to the country's economy indirectly through earning foreign currencies, read the letter.

Currently, there are about 0.5 million IT freelancers in the country, and their number is gradually increasing. They fetch around $100 million in export earnings annually.

Although the government provides 10 per cent cash incentive for the entire information and communication technology industry on their exports, IT freelancers do not get such facility.

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