State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak has expressed hope that Bangladesh will turn into a gateway to the digital world, reports BSS.

Considering the global demand, he said the IT industry is specially designed for the Internet of Things (IoT), Analytics, Social Media, Cloud and Mobile Technology.

He was inaugurating the 'Strategic CEO Outreach Program' organised by the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC), Leveraging ICT for Growth, Employment and Governance (LICT) project under the Department of Information and Communication Technology, at a city hotel in Dhaka Monday night.

The state minister said the government is implementing programmes for the expansion of the ICT sector following the directives of Prime Minister's Information and Communication Technology Adviser Sajib Wazed Joy.

"Policies and laws have been enacted, tax exemption facilities have been provided for IT industry and its infrastructure, IT parks are being developed, power generation has been increased and high-speed internet has already reached upto union level across the country," he said.

In addition to these facilities, Palak said, skilled human resources are being developed by providing world-class demand-based training to utilise the power of around 10 million operational talents.

He said the BCC is working to create employment and investment opportunities in IT sector. "They are also taking short and long-term initiatives to create sustainable investment environment."

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Director Aminul Islam said the government has digitised different types of services, including the Union Digital Centres, to provide services at the doorsteps of people in rural areas.

Hans-Paul Bürkner, Global Chairman of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), hoped that Bangladesh would be the next destination for information and communication technology (ICT).

BCC Executive Director Swapan Kumar Sarker, LICT Project Director Md. Rezaul Karim, former Nasscom President Som Mittal, BASIS President Mostafa Jabbar, representatives of the country's ICT industry and business organisations and senior officials of the ICT Division were also present.