BASIS launches Korea Desk to link local IT firms with South Korea

In a major move to deepen bilateral trade ties and strengthen cooperation in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) has launched the BASIS Korea Desk.

The inaugural ceremony was held at the BASIS Auditorium in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Shish Haider Chowdhury, secretary of the ICT Division under the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, attended the event as the chief guest, while Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Park Young-sik was present as the guest of honour.

Other distinguished guests include Dr Md Taibur Rahman, joint secretary and wing chief of ICT Promotion & Research at the ICT Division; Kim Taeyoung, country director of KOICA Bangladesh; and Yu Yong Oh, chairman of the Korean Community in Bangladesh. Shahab Uddin Khan, president of the Korea-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KBCCI); and Edward Kim, chairman of the BASIS Korea Desk, were also present as the special guests.

In her welcome address, Fouzia Nigar Sultana, member (finance) of the BASIS Associate Committee, said the Korea Desk will open up diverse opportunities for BASIS members. South Korea, known for its innovation and technological advancement, offers significant potential for Bangladesh's ICT industry, she said.

The newly-launched Korea Desk aims to serve as a strategic platform for knowledge sharing, technology transfer, joint ventures, and market expansion between ICT companies of both nations.

Speaking on the occasion, Korean Ambassador Park Young-sik expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, highlighting its mutual benefits for both countries.

"The BASIS Korea Desk marks a milestone in the growing integration between Bangladesh and Korea in the ICT sector," he said. "I believe this desk will enrich Korea's export market and significantly strengthen bilateral trade, business expansion, and cooperation between IT and software companies of both nations."

Edward Kim said, "The Korea Desk will help foster strategic and friendly relations between Bangladeshi and Korean technology companies. This launch is a significant milestone in boosting Bangladesh's IT sector and positioning it as a key global player. By leveraging this platform, tech firms in both countries can build strong, mutually beneficial business relations."

In his speech, Dr. Md. Taibur Rahman said, "The BASIS Korea Desk is not just a platform, but a gateway to vast possibilities for BASIS members and Bangladeshi IT enterprises. We firmly believe this initiative will play a vital role in establishing Bangladesh as a powerful IT hub."

Shish Haider Chowdhury stated that South Korea's trillion-dollar tech-driven economy and its robust Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) offer an ideal model for strategic cooperation. With its dynamic youth and reform-oriented mindset, Bangladesh is well poised to match Korea's pace of innovation, he pointed out.

He believes that initiatives like the BASIS Korea Desk will enable both nations to seize the vast opportunities of the digital economy, ensuring mutual growth and sustainable development.

Presiding over the event, Rafel Kabir, chairman of the BASIS Associate Committee, said, "The primary goal of establishing the BASIS Korea Desk is to connect Bangladesh's ICT sector more closely with Korea's expansive market."

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