21 firms to invest Tk 10b in three hi-tech parks

FE REPORT

Some 21 technology companies are set to invest Tk 10 billion in three hi-tech parks, creating about 2,500 new jobs.

To this effect, all the companies signed agreements with the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) in a signing ceremony at the ICT Tower in the city's Agargaon area on Wednesday.

BHTPA Managing Director Bikarna Kumar Ghosh and top officials of different companies signed the agreements on behalf of their respective sides, a statement said.

ICT Division Senior Secretary N M Zeaul Alam attended the ceremony as the chief guest.

Of the signee organisations, four companies got land allocation in Bangabandhu Hi-tech City at Kaliakoir, 16 companies in Sheikh Jamal Software Technology Park in Chattogram, and one in Sheikh Kamal IT Incubation and Training centre in CUET.

Among the firms, Bangladesh Card Limited alone will invest Tk 8.6 billion to manufacture smart card and security gears as well as assemble ATM in a plant, to be established on seven acres of land in Bangabandhu Hi-tech City.

Speaking on the occasion, N M Zeaul Alam said it is the high time to build a sustainable high-tech manufacturing ecosystem in Bangladesh, for which hi-tech parks can play a leading role.

"A labour-intensive economy is not enough to compete with the emerging economies and overcome the probable risks of global recession in the post-Covid-19."

The nations, which are focusing on knowledge-based technology-driven cities, would be able to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI).

Highlighting Bangladesh's initiatives in this regard, Mr Alam noted that currently 10 hi-tech parks are ready for investors. Besides, manufacturers at Bangabandhu Hi-tech City are exporting their products.

Bikarna Kumar Ghosh said the companies that received land and space allocation would work with high-end technologies like hardware, software, IoT, BPO, research and development (R&D), and data centre etc.

"So far, space and plots have been allotted to 175 companies in the country's high-tech parks," he said, adding that a number of start-ups also got office space free of cost.

The statement also said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the BHTPA and BRAC Bank to lend funds to the investors of hi-tech parks on facilitated conditions.

Besides, four other MoUs were also signed with four organisations - to bridge the existing gap among ICT industry, academia and stakeholders; develop human resource for ICT sector; flourishing women entrepreneurship; and strengthening start-up ecosystem.

The organisations are Women and E-Commerce (WE), Women Entrepreneurs Forum, Nibedita, and Bangladesh Women in Technology (BWIT).

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