ICT expo spotlights Bangladeshs potential
Sharif Ahmed
Bangladesh ICT EXPO 2017 has just ended with the theme of Make in Bangladesh and this expo had a unique platform to showcase the immense potential of the Bangladesh ICT industry, especially in the manufacturing segment of computer and ICT products and services.
This expo is an outstanding platform for us to introduce our products in the global and local market. Infrastructural support, cash incentives, tax benefits and government support will help us to promote unique locally manufactured products, say industry insiders.
Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) Mustafa Jabbar told The Independent that currently, Bangladesh exports software to 30 countries. The country earned around $191 million in 201617. The size of the ICT market is around $1 billion.
REVE antivirus, a sister concern of REVE Systems Ltd, showcased their product in the just ended Bangladesh ICT Expo 2017.
Marketing manager of REVE antivirus Ibnul Karim Rupen told The Independent, We showcased three types of product such as internet security, total security and windows server security in the ICT expo and received good reaction from the visitors.
Reahcing out
Explaining the benefits of this expo, he said such a platform was essential for local IT firms to showcase their products for their target customers.
This expo is an outstanding platform for us to introduce our products in the global and local markets, he said.
Rupen shared another benefit of participating in this expo, saying many industry friends had come under one roof and shared information about their products.
Rupen said, We need more foreign IT firms to participate in this expo so that local companies can share the same platform and get an idea about the demands of foreign market.
He added that Bangladeshi IT firms should focus on four things at presentdevelop their own products, generate new ideas, build a solid Unique Selling Proposition (USP), develop good marketing strategies, and invest in Research and Development.
Rupen said REVE antivirus was exporting to three places: India, Nepal and the Middle East.
STM Vision Ltd was another software development firm that participated in the ICT expo. They showcased their new product e-counting.
Managing director and CEO of STM Vision Ltd Enamul Haq Sujon told The Independent the ICT expo had been a great platform to promote local products that are unique in the international and national arena.
Before I came to this event, I had no idea about what our countrys local software manufacturers are doing. Now, I know about their work. So, this is a platform for knowledge sharing as well, Sujon felt.
We basically develop accounting software and provide marketing services as well. e-counting is cloud-based online software developed jointly by STM Vision and DataSoft systems.
When asked about e-counting, Sujon explained, e-counting is an online accounting software providing solutions to Small and Medium Enterprises (SME).
While showing some data about SME, he said, currently, 11 lakh SME entrepreneurs were operating their businesses and the domestic demand of accounting products was huge at present.
Make in Bangladesh
The domestic market of accounting software is approximately Tk 6,000 crore in Bangladesh, he added.
Nazmul Karim, a student from a local university told The Independent, I went to this ICT expo for the first time and heard that Walton mobile was giving 5 per cent discount to their mobile handsets; so, I bought one from them.
Bdjobs.com chairman and owner of Ajkerdeal.com Fahim Mashroor told The Independent that Make in Bangladesh was the message of this expo, encouraging local firms to manufacture and brand their own product for the international arena.
But the local firms must remember that the cost of production should be low and competitive compared to other countries, he added.
Overall, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) market was Tk 8,000 to 10,000 crore in Bangladesh, Fahim Mashroor informed.
The Bdjobs.com chairman spoke of three challenges about the ICT sector, saying a shortage of experienced manpower and skilled IT experts was the prime obstacle to the growth of this sector.
The second challenge, in his opinion, was posed by government policy, which he said was framed in such a way that it helped foreign companies dominate the local market. So, he felt the policy needed to be changed or reformed.
And the third challenge, in his view, was inadequate internet access at the grassroots level. He said it was a major challenge that was keeping the software industry from flourishing at the grassroots level.
Export growth
When asked about the export growth of the software industry, he said, In 201617, the export was approximately $190 million dollars and the growth was 20 per cent.
He added, Every year, the export growth was 20 to 30 per cent, but we need 100150 per cent growth to achieve the target of Vision 2021 set by the government.
At present, Bangladesh exports software to the United States, Europe, and Japan, he informed.
Bdjobs.com chairman said, according to the information of theBangladesh Association of Software and Information Services(BASIS), approximately 975 software companies were registered with BASIS and the demand in the local markets was worth approximately 4 to 5 thousand crore. But 7080 per cent market was captured by the foreign companies.
Rest 20 per cent demand was being catered to by the local companies, he added.
Talking to The Independent, president of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), Mustafa Jabbar, said that this expo had been a great platform to introduce an advanced technological solution to the people of Bangladesh.
We have been organising this ICT expo since 2014, he said.
When asked, Mustafa Jabbar said this years slogan was Make in Bangladesh and said, We welcome foreign investors to come, invest, and manufacture both software and hardware devices in this country.
We will provide all sorts of investment-friendly facilities to the foreign investors, he added.
When asked specifically about the manufacture of software products and export capabilities, Mustafa Jabbar said, Despite some hindrances and challenges, we are capable enough to manufacture and export our software products.
Bangladesh was exporting software products to 30 countries at this moment, Jabbar said.
BASIS president cited an example and said, We used to export approximately $26 million in 2008, but it has increased to $191 million in 2017.
Tax benefits, government policy support, infrastructure development and lesser brain drain contributed to the dramatic growth of last year, which was around 26 per cent, and BASIS had been working towards this goal since 1997, Jabbar explained.
Speaking of the challenges, he pointed to a shortage of deficit skilled manpower in the ICT sector, saying it was the biggest challenge at this moment.
Mustafa Jabbar pointed to another challenge: We dont have sufficient educational institutions or labs to conduct ICT and training programmes for the ICT professional and students.
This year, we are getting 10 per cent tax incentive on the export of software products. This will certainly help achieve the target of digital Bangladesh Vision 2021, he felt.
Mustafa Jabbar suggested the inclusion of computer coding at the primary educational level, tax benefits till 2024 and the development of infrastructure for digital platforms.
Skilled workforce is the raw material of this industry. So, we need to create more skilled IT experts to increase the demand of the local market and industry as well, he pointed out.
Explaining the theme Make in Bangladesh, president of e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh Razib Ahmed told The Independent that it covers both the hardware and software industry.
Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS) focuses more on the hardware industry and in the recent years, we are talking about producing hardware in Bangladesh. Many software companies are now working for their clients in both home and abroad, said Razib.
Describing the challenges at this moment in the ICT sector in Bangladesh, Razib Ahmed said, Creating enough skilled manpower is the main challenge for the ICT sector in our country. We need skilled entrepreneurs as well as professionals.
When asked, he said, The platform of ICT expo is showcasing the products and services of many local companies. I would have been happy if more effort was given to showcase the startup companies in the ICT sector. I hope that the next year, the organizers will focus on this aspect, he said.
When asked about the job creation, e-CAB president said that the government has an ambitious target of 2 million jobs to be created in ICT sector by 2021.
However, the government has taken this agenda seriously. Thus, this ICT Expo will contribute to take the Digital Bangladesh Vision one step ahead, he added.
When asked about the Paypal services launched during the expo, Razib Ahmed said Paypal would surely contribute in this regard, as freelancers would be benefited. It will bring more foreign currency or US Dollar in Bangladesh through legal or proper banking channel.
