‘It is high time to create a sustainable high-tech manufacturing ecosystem in Bangladesh’

The Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) has been preparing to revolutionise the high-tech industry in the country. 

For this purpose, the authority has taken initiatives to attract investments in Bangladesh in the post-Covid-19 era, said speakers on the second day of a webinar titled "Beyond-2020."

The webinar was organised to inform local and foreign investors about the suitability of hi-tech parks for investment, said a press release of the BHTPA on Friday.

On the second day of the webinar, the speakers discussed the BHTPA's incentive facilities, one-stop services and other facilities available to investors.

Discussants at the program said Bangladesh is ahead of nine rising countries including India in terms of: incentives packages, human resource development, helpful infrastructure, favourable export conditions, and diplomatic relations with leading consumer countries.

NM Ziaul Alam, senior secretary of the Information and Communication Technology Division, attended the webinar on its second day.

He said, "It is high time for creating a sustainable high-tech manufacturing ecosystem in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority can play the lead role in this regard."

Hosne Ara Begum, managing director (secretary) of BHTPA, said, "Five hi-tech parks in the country are ready for investment now. Several companies are working on 355 acres of land in the Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City, in Gazipur's Kaliakair area. Products made here are being exported to foreign countries."

She said local and foreign investors have invested more than $500 million in the hi-tech parks in just four years.

"Recently giant Chinese firm Oryx Biotech Ltd signed an agreement to invest $300 million in the Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City. Further, Samsung, Nokia, Walton and some other companies are also  preparing to invest in the park," said Hosne Ara.

Sultan Lootah, chairman of United Arab Emirates-based Vault Investments; Muiz Tasnim, associate vice president of Ernst and Young, Bangladesh; Bijon Islam, chief executive officer of LightCastle Partners; and Shaibal Chakraborti, managing director of Boston Consulting Group, took part in discussion.

The webinar was organised by a local initiative named Inspiring Bangladesh with the assistance of the BHTPA.