Sylhet Hi-Tech Park to open new era in IT sector, says minister

SYLHET, Sept 02: Minister for Post, Tele communication and ICT Mostafa Jabbar said in order to achieving the vision 2021 through the use of ICT in all strata of life the government has been working sincerely in a planned 'IT ecosystem'.

The final destination of the eco-system is to create employment opportunities through the establishment of knowledge-based industries in general and IT/ITES and advanced Hi-tech industries in particular as well as expanding the business arena of IT entrepreneurs both locally and globally. 

He was addressing a seminar as the chief guest at in the city on Sunday on 'Sylhet Hi-Tech Park (Sylhet Electronic City)' to wooing the investors.

The Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and the ICT Ministry jointly organised the event while the ministry's Standing Committee president Imran Ahmed chaired. 

Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury, the prime minister's Principal Secretary Md Nozibur Rahman, Bangladesh Hi Tech Park Authority chairman Hosne Ara (also Secretary to the government), Sylhet Hi-Tech Park Project Director Barrister Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan and SCCI president Khondaker Shiper Ahmed also addressed the event.

About 100 entrepreneurs, academics and business leaders joined the event at the SCCI building.

Chief consultant Architect Iqbal Habib presented the details of the project's infrastructure and facilities.

Sylhet would be the country's first digital city, the minister said, "We have already started some projects here in association with the Sylhet City Corporation and the SCCI."

Things would be visible soon as the SCC had already initiated providing digital services for the citizen, the minister added.

The Sylhet Hi Tech Park will open a new era for the country's youths, especially the freshers from colleges and universities.

On the other hand, it would open huge opportunities for the region as well as for the seven sister states of India, which are close to Syleht, he added.

Besides, the NRBs, especially the Sylhet-origin people in the UK and USA would have a new scope for investment. Special tax holiday and incentive programme are there for the investors on the Sylhet Hi-Tech Park.

The event was told that the Sylhet Hi Tech Park, known as Sylhet Electronic City is being established on a 162.83 acre area in Companiganj upazila of Sylhet. It is only 20 km off the city.

The site includes specific zones for industrial belt, ICT business zone, administrative area, community facility, infrastructure zone while separate zone would be there as water body.

About 60 percent works on the project are complete and it would operate in 2019-2020.

Some 50 entrepreneurs have already applied for plots at the park, an official informed.

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