News Briefs-(16-5-2018)

WB to provide $110m for sustainable enterprises

The World Bank will provide $110 million in assistance for Bangladesh to implement the Sustainable Enterprise Project (SEP), which will help about 20,000 micro-enterprises adopt environmentally-friendly practices. The project covers manufacturing and agri-business sectors, including leather, mini textiles, light engineering, plastic, food processing, metal products, livestock, horticulture, aquaculture and poultry, said a World Bank official. A loan agreement to this end will be signed between the Economic Relations Division (ERD) and the World Bank at the ERD in the city today (Wednesday). ERD Secretary Kazi Shofiqul Azam and World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal Qimiao Fan will sign the loan agreement on behalf of their respective sides. — BSS

BASIS develops Bangabandhu-1 mobile app

Telecom and ICT Minister Mustafa Jabbar has inaugurated the Bangabandhu Satellite-1 mobile app (BB-SET-1 Mobile APP) developed by the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS). The purpose of the app is to provide information and services regarding and gathered by Bangabandhu-1, the country's first satellite in geostationary orbit, to the people of the country in a smoother way. The app was launched at a ceremony at the BCC Auditorium in Agargoan on Monday.The ICT minister said that by the end of 2018, no union of the country will remain outside of broadband internet coverage. — UNB

World Telecom & Info Society Day tomorrow

With the theme 'Enabling the positive use of Artificial Intelligence for All', the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) will be observed in the country tomorrow (Thursday). The posts and telecommunications division and its affiliate organisations have drawn up elaborate programmes to focus on the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accelerate the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). —BSS