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Enhancing skills in new technologies and participation in more value-added outsourcing jobs are essential to increase export earnings from the country's IT sector, speakers said at a programme on Wednesday.
They made the observation at a meet-the-press organised by the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) to announce the 'BASIS Outsourcing Award 2021' at its office in the city's Kawran Bazar area.
BASIS President Syed Almas Kabir presided over the meeting, while its Senior Vice President Farhana A Rahman, Vice President Mushfiqur Rahman, Director Rashad Kabir, Senior Executive Vice President and Head of International Affairs at Bank Asia Md Zia Arfin spoke on the occasion, among others.
Speaking on the occasion, Syed Almas Kabir said the government has set a target of $5.0 billion in export revenue by 2025 from the software and information technology-enabled service (ITES) sector.
Some 10 per cent cash incentive on export earnings by the sector has already been introduced to achieve the target, he said and added that the incentives should be doubled for the next three to five years.
"BASIS is working in unison with the government to explore several new markets," said the BASIS chief.
He also underscored the need for strengthening public-private initiatives to improve skills to innovate new products and services for widening the international market and enhancing earnings.
Highlighting the high valued jobs, he said one freelancer can double or triple his/her income by dint of more value-added IT skills at the cost of the same duration.
"Our human resources must enhance skill in new technologies to increase our income from the export of IT services," he said.
Zia Arfin said Bank Asia has been supporting the event from the very beginning and will continue to do so in the future.
"I believe that this arrangement will lead to an increase of export of the IT sector. It will also encourage individuals and organisations in online outsourcing in almost all districts and remote areas of the country."
The registration process for the award has already started and it will continue until November 11.
A total of 100 awards will be conferred to the awardees through a step-by-step screening by the judges in two categories, said Mr Kabir, who is the convener of the award.
To know more about BASIS Outsourcing Award 2021, interested people can visit outsourcing award.basis.-org.bd.
According to the organisers, there will be 20 awards at the institutional level and 80 at the individual level. Of the institutional awardees, five will be from the outsourcing organisations, five from the startups, while 10 others will be selected in the 'Export Excellence' category.
Among individuals, 64 will be selected from 64 districts, six in the women freelancers' category, and the best 10 people will receive the honour in the outsourcing professional category.
Bank Asia is the Platinum Sponsor and the programme is supported by the ICT Business Promotion Council and MasterCard Bangladesh.