State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak said that Bangladesh has gone from being an importer of digital devices to a producer to an exporter. He said Bangladeshi brand Walton has played a pivotal role in making Bangladesh a digital device manufacturing and exporter country in implementing the vision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. So Walton is the pride of the country.
The state minister was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of "Walkart" at Walton Corporate Office in Bashundhara on Sunday.
E-Cab President Shami Kaiser, BASIS President Syed Almas Kabir, BCS President Shahid Ul Munir, BACCO President Wahid Sharif, Managing Director Sabiha Jerin Arna, Walton DG-Tech Industries Managing Director SM Manjurul Alam Avi among others spoke on the occasion. SM Shamsul Alam, Vice Chairman, Hi-Tech Industries Limited, SM Nurul Alam Rizvi, Chairman, Walton were present at the programme.
The State Minister said that Bangladesh has now become an attractive destination for the world in the development of skilled human resources. There are six and a half lakh freelancers in Bangladesh. Those who are outsourcing to big European-American companies sitting in their cities or homes in Bangladesh. IT freelancers are earning 700 million by outsourcing. He said that small start-ups of about 1700 companies of BASIS are now exporting software to 60 countries of the world beyond the borders of Bangladesh. He further said that the software companies of Bangladesh are providing client based software (CBS) of about 32 banks with core banking software in the banks of
the country. Last year, Walton exported goods worth Tk 1.7 billion to Europe and the US market, he said.
Palak said the ICT department has set up 6,000 Sheikh Russell Digital Computer Labs across the country and 35,000 Sheikh Russell Digital Labs will be set up at secondary and higher secondary levels by 2025. He also said that our goal is to have all the hardware made here will be made in Bangladesh hardware. Digital devices and the country of origin will be in Bangladesh. He also said that all the software and content will be developed and designed in Bangladesh.
