March 29, 2024, 6:51 pm


Staff Correspondent

Published:
2021-11-23 01:35:51 BdST

Interoperability of digital finance in January: Palak


State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak has said that the government is set to launch the interoperable digital transaction platform in January next year, allowing people to move funds effortlessly within the financial sector in real-time and at lower costs.

“The platform will curb the cost of transactions and harassment in making financial transactions,” said Palak at an event at the second session of the “Capacity building training for Anandamela platform users in Bangladesh” organised by Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.

Speaking as special guest, state minister Palak said, “Some 2,000 small women entrepreneurs will be given a non-refundable amount of Tk 50,000 each for website development and marketing.”

Palak said the digital economy is evolving in the country through the implementation of the Digital Bangladesh.

“In 2018, exports in the ICT sector exceeded one billion US dollars as Bangladesh ranks second among the online labour force. About 6.5 million freelancers are earning around $500 million from outsourcing.”

“Eight, out of 39 high-tech or IT parks, have already been set up where domestic and foreign investors have started their business activities. Of these, 120 companies have so far invested Tk 327 crore in five such parks where more than 13,000 jobs have been created,” he added.

Once the construction work of all the high-tech parks is completed, more than three lakh people will be employed as an investment target worth Tk 2,400 crore has been set for all these parks by 2025, he added.

Inaugurating the workshop, as chief guest, Planning Minister M A Mannan said that the government of Bangladesh has undertaken different positive action prgrammes for the development of women and women entrepreneurs.

“Women entrepreneurs are now involved in diversified businesses with many innovative ideas. However, women entrepreneurs are facing lots of challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic situation. So, this is the time to change and this is the time for online business. Capacity building training can help develop the skills of women entrepreneurs,” he added.

Mentioning that online banking, electronic money transfer, and ATM cards are spreading the use of e-commerce across the country. Mannan also said, “As of March 2020, the size of e-commerce was Tk 8,500 crore, which has doubled since the Covid-19 pandemic. By 2023, the domestic e-commerce market could reach Tk 25,000 crore.”

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