Correspondent: The opening ceremony of the 3-day-long 5th Chittagong IT Fair 2024, jointly organized by the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Society of Chittagong IT Professionals (SCITP), was held today, Saturday, February 17, at noon at the World Trade Center.
Under the chairmanship of Chamber President Omar Hajjaz, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak MP, President of the Society of IT Professionals Abdullah Farid, Regional Manager of Platinum Sponsor F-5 Shipon Kumar Vanik, and Country Manager of Sofoz AHM were the chief guests. Mohsin spoke.
Chief Guest Minister of State for Information and Communication Technology, Junaid Ahmed Palak MP, said that the port city of Chittagong will be transformed into the model of the future Silicon City of the country. For this purpose, the ICT Incubator and Sheikh Kamal IT Business Incubation Center have been launched in Chittagong. Freelancers can earn foreign currency by providing IT services. Also, if we can give opportunities to the freelancers who are in Chittagong, then they will be able to create employment as well as become entrepreneurs. Therefore, we will allot 5,000 square feet of space at the Sheikh Kamal ICT Incubation Center to the Chittagong Chamber. Where the Chamber will allow the freelancers to work under scrutiny.
He said freelancers will get the opportunity to run their businesses here for six months free of charge with uninterrupted electricity and high-speed internet service. Moreover, to contribute to the creation of employment for freelancers, startup Bangladesh companies will provide easy loans ranging from Tk 5 lakh to Tk 5 crore. If this type of initiative is implemented, a billion-dollar IT company will be created in the country.
He also said that the Hon’ble Prime Minister is investing billions of dollars in infrastructure development as well as the information technology sector. In the future, a knowledge park is being established in Chittagong City at a cost of Rs 170 crore. skilled freelancers and entrepreneurs will be created through academia and industrial collaboration.
Junaid Ahmed Palak MP said the Joy Smart Service and Employment Center will be built in 15 upazilas of Chittagong at a cost of 50 crore taka. Every year, 1 lakh students can become subalterns with training. Also, a generative AI engine is being developed to provide all the data and information needed by the government, which will be implemented in pilot form within the next 6 months. “Development is visible; employment will increase now.” If these initiatives are implemented, keeping in mind the slogan of the honorable Prime Minister, Bangladesh will become a trillion-dollar economy before 2041.
Chamber President Omar Hajjaz said that the country is moving forward on the path of building a developed and smart Bangladesh under the Vision 2041 of Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It is never possible to develop this developed Bangladesh without extensive economic development. The current GDP of Bangladesh is about 500 billion dollars. It is expected that Bangladesh will enter the trillion-dollar economy by 2041. As a result of the digitization of government, people are now reaping the benefits of sitting at home. The government has set a unique precedent by digitizing complex government services, especially land. The benefits of this will be enjoyed by countless people, including businessmen. In addition, the information technology sector of the country can play a significant role in solving the problems that still exist.
He said that India and Korea are far ahead in the field of information technology. In keeping with them, we have to enrich this country of 180 million people in the information technology sector. For this, government support and timely decisions are required. Chittagong Chamber is working as a partner of the government in the development of information technology. The Chamber is organizing the Chittagong IT Fair for the fifth time.
SCITP President Abdullah Farid said SCITP is an organization consisting of all IT professionals in Chittagong. Through which various tasks and programs have been carried out constantly in the professional development of IT professionals. The 5th Chittagong International Trade Fair-2024 is being organized with the slogan ‘Next Tech Hub the Chittagong’. Along with various reputed companies in Dhaka and Chittagong, IT and solution-based companies owned by India, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and Ireland are participating in this year’s IT fair. Besides, five seminars on information technology, including cyber security and digital marketing, will be held during the fair. Through which the IT professionals and freelancers of Chittagong will benefit.
After the official opening, Chief Guest Minister of State for Information and Communication Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak MP visited various stalls in the fair.
It should be noted that about 40 organizations are participating in the fair, with about 60 stalls. Along with various reputed companies in Dhaka and Chittagong, IT and solution-based companies owned by India, the United Kingdom, China, and Ireland are participating in this year’s IT fair.
F-5 is the platinum sponsor of the fair. DDN is the gold sponsor, and Sophos is the silver sponsor. Lingth 3 is the technology partner, and Beatles Cyber Security Ltd. is participating as the cyber security partner. Besides, various seminars are organized at the World Trade Center every day during the fair. On February 17–19, the fair will run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
