Bangladesh became digitized with its homegrown innovations: Sajeeb Wazed

“I’m proud to say we did not outsource our digitization, we did not bring in foreign consultants (to build the IT infrastructure) . . . we did it on our own with our homegrown innovations, homegrown solutions,” he told the inauguration of the country’s first ever “IT Incubator” to extend financial support to small ICT entrepreneurs.

He said under the initiative of the Awami League government, the country launched the digitization campaign seven years ago, when the country completely lacked the basic infrastructures.

He said the past five-year of the government was spent to develop the basic infrastructure for the ICT while its current tenure was dedicated to develop the ICT industries for making the country’s room in the global arena of IT sector through innovations.
He appreciated IT industries for their efforts to build the backbone of the sector saying it was because of them “we are, where we are today”.

Joy described himself as an IT entrepreneur saying he made his debut 20 years back in the Silicon Valley and “just like many of you, I failed many times but I kept trying while eventually I succeeded”.

“You have to find your innovations, find your ideas and you have to keep trying with the belief that nothing is impossible and you can do it,” he said.

The premier’s adviser on ICT affairs said while Bangladesh was once dubbed as a “basket case” today it appeared as the world’s second fastest growing economy officially earning its status as a middle income country.

“It is because Bangladesh was born with the ‘nothing is impossible spirit . . . this spirit is needed by the IT entrepreneurs as well,” he said.

Mayor of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Annisul Huq, Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Houlin Zhao, State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Co-Founder of VimpelCom Augie K Fabela and Chief Executive Officer of Banglalink Erik Aas also addressed the function.

Zhao appreciated the supportive environment created in Bangladesh for SMEs encouraging particularly the youngsters to launch their ventures expecting it to help accelerated growth supplementing development of other sectors as well.

“I congratulate the Bangladesh government for this bold initiative, which puts tech entrepreneurship at the heart of the country’s ICT development strategy,” Zhao said.

He added: “SMEs form an important part of the ICT business and start-ups are a rich source of innovation.”

ICT Division and Banglalink jointly initiated the IT Incubator as a platform to create digital entrepreneurship as a way to empower young people, give theme purpose and provide them with jobs and opportunities to be the part of global digital economy and society.

Photo: Focus Bangla