State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak has said that an interoperable digital transaction platform will be launched in January to curb the cost and harassment of financial transactions.
He made the disclosure while addressing the second session of "Capacity Building Training for Anandamela Platform Users in Bangladesh Kickoff Workshop" as special guest on Sunday.
The event was organized by the Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry with support from the United Nations Development Programme at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital.
The state minister also said that a non-refundable Tk 50,000 would be provided to 2,000 small women entrepreneurs each in the country for marketing and developing websites.
Saying that online banking, electronic money transfer, and ATM cards have been spreading the use of e-commerce in the country, he also informed, “As of March 2020, the size of e-commerce industry was Tk 8,500 crore, which has doubled following the Covid-19 pandemic. By 2023, the domestic e-commerce market could reach Tk 25,000 crore.”
He further said that due to various government initiatives, a startup ecosystem had been developed in the country.
“Startups are being given grants through the Idea project initiated by the ICTD,” he added.
Palak said the digital economy has been developing in the country through the implementation of Digital Bangladesh.
"In 2018, exports in the ICT sector exceeded US$1 billion. Bangladesh ranks second in the online labour force. About 6.5 million freelancers are earning about US$500 million from the outsourcing sector. Eight out of 39 high-tech or IT parks have already been set up, and domestic and foreign investors have started business activities there. Of these, 120 companies have invested Tk 327 crore in five of them, and more than 13,000 jobs have been created," he added.
He said if the construction work of high-tech parks gets completed, more than 3,00,000 people will get employment and a target of Tk 2,400 crore has been set for investment in parks by 2025.
Meanwhile, addressing the session as chief guest, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that the government has undertaken different affirmative actions for the development of women and women entrepreneurs in the country.
"Women entrepreneurs are now involved in diversified businesses with many innovative ideas. However, in the Covid-19 pandemic situation, women entrepreneurs are facing lots of challenges. This is the time to change, and this is the time for online business. Jointly, we can achieve many things. Capacity building training can help develop the skills of women entrepreneurs," he added.
Mannan inaugurated the workshop saying that Bangladesh will be a dignified country in the world very soon.
