'Govt projects to use software from local firms'

State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak has said the government will procure software for its projects from local firms.

"No software will be collected from any foreign company," he said.

The junior minister came up with the statement while inaugurating the three-day SoftExpo-2019 in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) is the organiser of the event that started at the International Convention City Bashundhara in the city, reports UNB.

Palak said the government is working with the private sector to create jobs for 2.0 million youths by 2021 under the Establishing Digital Connectivity (EDC) project, said a PID handout.

He also the government is setting up 28 high-tech parks and incubation centres in the country to create skilled manpower to build Digital Bangladesh.

"Besides, various programmes have been taken to crate young entrepreneurs," Palak said.

The state minister said the government is also working to ensure high-speed internet connections to all the unions across the country, including remote hilly regions, under the Establishment of ICT Network to Remote Areas (Connected Bangladesh) project.

He also mentioned that internet connectivity will reach every village under the EDC project.

Palak said some 100 million people are now using the internet in the country.

The three-day exposition features Japan Day, corporate hour, ICT career camp, gaming fest and B2B matchmaking session.

Thirty seminars will be held on ICT where over 100 experts from different countries are presenting their deliberations.