IT entrepreneurs enriching themselves with European know-how

By Shahidul K K Shuvra


IT entrepreneurs of the country just have received a training at the project named "IT-upgraded Know-how Transfer and Training in the area of software development and production." Final Dissemination Workshop of the IT- Upgrade Project ended with a high hope to harness the software industry of the country with the know-how of European ICT knowledge.

The project was co-financed by the European Commission; Bangladesh Association of Software & Information Services (BASIS) implemented the project in collaboration with University of Bremen, Germany and Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry. BASIS President Habibullah N. Karim who chaired the conclusion ceremony of the training project mentioned, "We are continuing our affords to bridge up our IT industry with the larger market of software which is scattered across the developed nations.""Our participants learnt the cluster model is the concept of bringing bulk of businesses. Benefit of multiple collaborations is to support to build desired knowledge based society with addressing the needs of the software industry."

As a chief guest Feroz Ahmed, Secretary for the Ministry of Commerce, said, "I hope that in future EU will continue to assist BASIS to make significant contribution for the development of our IT professionals and strengthening the expansion of our IT exports." Rolf Reinhard, Charge d'Affairs, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, mentioned, "Huge knowledge of the world is under your fingertip and the biggest challenge of it is how to explore the knowledge for the development of people. To cope with the emerging IT market we have to keep pace with upgrading. Outlook of the IT industry of the country is really promising."
T. I. M. Nurul Kabir, Project Director of IT-Upgrade Project, who moderated the whole session, said, "Many years before Indo-German cooperation boosted the IT sector of India. Now the new cooperation of Bangla-German will bring new IT avenue for the profits of both sides."

Dr. Thies Witting, Representative of Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told, "Relatively IT is an easy tool to fasten advancement in a society and the IT up gradation will help the local industry to grip the business target."
Dr. Stefan Frowein, Ambassador of Commission of European Union, mentioned, "The multi-players afford with including three organisations will definitely change the IT business landscape of the country. Commission of European Union is committed to help poverty reduction missions and it has genuine intention to facilitate businesses."

Sophie Clavelier-Khan, Deputy Trade Commissioner, Economic Department, Embassy of France; Engineer Bibhuti Roy of University of Bremen, Germany; BASIS Secretary General Nahid Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.To promote business co-operation between the EU and Asia the Asia-Invest Programme was launched by European Union in 1997. Its aim was at increasing trade and investment flows between the two regions.
BASIS is running several programmes with the partnership of multi stakeholder bodies. IT companies of the country often cannot step up for lack of training. Adopting the European know-how and training in the field of software development, production and development of multimedia applications will improve the quality of software entrepreneurs. We hope their confidence, skills and productivity will be increased remarkably. But only training cannot forward an industry until dedication comes from the entrepreneurs and staffs.

Caption- Dr. Stefan Frowein, Ambassador of Commission of European Union, stressing importance of ICTs in poverty alleviation and trade.


The Independent

19 September 2008

BTN notes comments of IT journalists

Shahidul K K Shuvra, IT Page In-charge of The Independent, mentioned, “The concept of telecentre may not exist long because technology is evolving rapidly. So telecentre practitioners have to adopt new technology with innovations for the benefits of poor people. Ever rising power of cell phone to some extent can endanger the trend of telecentre movement. As a apex body of the telecentre practitioners BTN should sense this phenomenon and at the same time fix some guidelines so that unscrupulous persons cannot take benefits by the name of telecentre operation”.

He added, “We urgently need some trained ICT development writers and journalists who will constructively discuss about the sector. Their informative and analytical write-ups can make the telecentres movement transparent, accountable as well as effective.”

Mohammad Kawsar Uddin, ICT Reporter of The Daily Sangbad said, “We need more emphasis on content development. Telecentres basically operate in the rural areas and in this regard telecentre practitioners must come forward to develop localised content”.

Anaya Raihan, Secretary General of BTN, told, “We need to diversify the concept of telecentre in order to leverage the telecentre movement. We must be aware about the global phenomenon in order to give a blow to the ongoing telecentre activities in the country. We value the role of media and thus we have taken comments and observations of the ICT journalists seriously. ”

He also shown an example and narrated, “D.Net took an initiative to introduce telecentre related services to the banks. In this regard, D.Net already approached different banks and process is underway to unveil telecentre related services”.

Kazi Kader Newaz, Assistant Manager of World Net, raised the sustainability issue of telecentes. He said, “We need to focus on the sustainability of the existing telecentres. If we would not be able to viable existing operation then the new addition will not greatly help to fulfil the aspiration of establishing forty thousand telecentres across the country”.

Apart from the regular discussion, BTN also urged journalists to work together to transfer knowledge to the unprivileged community. As a partner one UNDP representative also joined the occasion in order to share its different development initiatives with the government.

Caption: IT journalists and members of BTN at the knowledge sharing session.

The Independent

8 August 2008

HP unveils Mini Note PC in Bangladesh

HP Mini-Note PC 2133 might be small in size but it is big on usability, durability and attractiveness.Packed with an impressive combination of features, the HP 2133 offers a full-function PC with the extreme mobility.

The HP Mini-Note PC with ULV 1.60 GHz processor, 1024 MB memory,weighs in at just 1.19 kg and targets the education market, says a press release.The 8.9-inch WXGA display with 1280x780 pixel resolutions, make this Mini Note PC the unique one.

The HP 2133 Mini-Note PC features a durable design with a robust suite of wireless, multimedia and security capabilities to allow users to stay productive. It is only 1.05 inches (27 to 33 mm) thin.The HP 2133 is designed to go where you go without weighing you down.This small wonder keeps you ultra-productive.

It has high definition audio, stereo speakers & stereo microphones.The HP 2133 Mini-Note PC helps you stay connected where you need to work by offering integrated Wi-Fi Certified WLAN1 and Bluetooth wireless technologies.Computer Source Limited (CSL) is offering HP Mini-Note PC 2133 at Taka 60,000 with one-year limited warranty.