Muhith hints at lifting VAT on internet use

Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday said the withdrawal of existing VAT on internet usage will be considered in the next budget to ensure easier access of internet.

"I promise to seriously consider the VAT on internet usage in the next budget as it will be the last budget of my career," he said while speaking at the inaugural programme of the four-day BASIS SoftExpo 2018 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital yesterday.

Finance minister  also underscored the need for a specific city or area with all sorts of facilities, including WI-FI, to boost the Information Communication and Technology (ICT) sector in the country.

“We have no specific city or a specific area like in the developed countries where the youths would use wifi at free of cost. We should establish such type of city,” he added.

Posts Telecommunications and ICT Minister Mustafa Jabbar was present at the inaugural session as the special guest while BASIS President Syed Almas Kabir was in the chair.

With the slogan "Designing the Future", Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) is organising the expo.

The expo is a congregation of ICT companies, personalities, key policymakers, industry leaders and other ICT stakeholder's including national and international exhibitors, business leaders, students as well as general visitors.

Over 180 local and international exhibitors are participating in the expo to showcase their products and innovation before the local banks, government, telecom operators, business organizations, foreign companies as well as IT users.

The exhibition area has been divided into four separate zones -- Business Software Zone, ITES and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Zone, Mobile Innovation Zone and E-Commerce Zone.

Local and foreign business match making sessions will be arranged in order to business expansion of IT ventures. A business lounge will be arranged as an added value for the exhibitors. Besides, Leaders' Meet, Developer Conference, Tech Women and other notable events will be available this year.

About 30 seminars will be arranged with participation of more than 100 national and international speakers.

Muhith hints at lifting VAT on internet use

Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday said the withdrawal of existing VAT on internet usage will be considered in the next budget to ensure easier access of internet. I promise to seriously consider the VAT on internet usage in the next budget as it will be the last budget of my career, he said while speaking at the inaugural programme of the four-day BASIS SoftExpo 2018 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital yesterday. Finance minister also underscored the need for a specific city or area with all sorts of facilities, including WI-FI, to boost the Information Communication and Technology (ICT) sector in the country. We have no specific city or a specific area like in the developed countries where the youths would use wifi at free of cost. We should establish such type of city, he added. Posts Telecommunications and ICT Minister Mustafa Jabbar was present at the inaugural session as the special guest while BASIS President Syed Almas Kabir was in the chair. With the slogan Designing the Future, Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) is organising the expo. The expo is a congregation of ICT companies, personalities, key policymakers, industry leaders and other ICT stakeholders including national and international exhibitors, business leaders, students as well as general visitors. Over 180 local and international exhibitors are participating in the expo to showcase their products and innovation before the local banks, government, telecom operators, business organizations, foreign companies as well as IT users. The exhibition area has been divided into four separate zones -- Business Software Zone, ITES and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Zone, Mobile Innovation Zone and E-Commerce Zone. Local and foreign business match making sessions will be arranged in order to business expansion of IT ventures. A business lounge will be arranged as an added value for the exhibitors. Besides, Leaders Meet, Developer Conference, Tech Women and other notable events will be available this year. About 30 seminars will be arranged with participation of more than 100 national and international speakers.