The US government is keen to work with Bangladesh on capacity building in the Internet, Safe IT and civil capacity building, environmental sector, cyber security training. They want to work on partnership basis through latest technology in areas like environmental pollution, infrastructure and traffic congestion.
James Gardiner, Economic, Science and Technology Officer of the US Embassy in Bangladesh, expressed this interest during a bilateral meeting with State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak at the Idea Floor of ICT Tower in Agargaon on Thursday.
During the meeting, both friends discussed various important issues related to the mutual interest of the United States and Bangladesh, especially the development and development of the semiconductor design chip sector in Bangladesh, bilateral trade and commerce, women’s empowerment, plans to launch the IT Connect Portal Bangladesh-USA Desk.
The State Minister proposed setting up an IT Connect Bangladesh-US desk like Japan and Korea in public-private joint partnership.
He said that this IT desk will attract US investment in the country’s IT sector and the business relationship between the US IT company and the domestic IT company will increase and will facilitate the development of the digital economy of the two countries. He highlighted various activities including the importance of creating a cashless society, inclusive society and pointed out that Bangladesh and the United States have many opportunities to work together with the same goals.
Palak said, step by step, microchip to nano chip eco system is being developed in the country. We are building the resource talent pool by developing our capabilities in artificial intelligence, robotics, microchip design and cyber security technologies. As a result, in the next 10 years we will be able to participate in solving global problems.
James Gardiner said, the youth of Bangladesh are contributing to innovation in the country and abroad. Recently, talented Bangladeshi youths have made a mark of success in the NASA Space Apps Challenge competition.
Later Sami Ahmed, Managing Director of Startup Bangladesh Limited presented the outline of Smart Bangladesh and various ICT related activities to the guests in the form of presentation.
At this time, the Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Computer Council Ranjit Kumar, the Director General of the ICT Department Mo. Mustafa Kamal, the Managing Director of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority Mohammad Rezaul Karim, the Project Director of the Idea Project M. Altaf Hossen, and Shobhani Rasanayakam, an environment, science, technology, and health official of the US Embassy in Dhaka, as well as Asif Ahmed and Shila Ahmed, Economic Commercial Specialists, and officials from the IT department were present.
