SoftExpo-2011, an exposition of the country’s largest software and ICT-enabled services, is going to start in the capital from February 01. The five-day software carnival will be held for the ninth time this year at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC). Organisers of the expo, Bangladesh Association of Software & Information Services (BASIS) informed this at a press conference in the city’s Sonargaon Hotel on Sunday (January 30).
Finance Minister Mr Abul Maal Abdul Muhith will formally inaugurate the expo as Chief Guest at the BICC on February 01 at 11:00am while Commerce Minister Mr Faruk Khan and State Minister for Science & ICT Architect Yeafes Osman will attend the program as Special Guests, the organizers said.
BASIS President Mr Mahbub Zaman presided over the press conference, which was attended, among others, by SoftExpo-2011 Convener and BASIS Vice-President AKM Fahim Mashroor, BASIS Vice-President Farhana A Rahman, BASIS Secretary General Forkan Bin Kashem, SoftExpo-2011 Co-Convener Tamjid Siddik Spondon and representatives from different sponsor and partner companies.
With the theme ‘Digital Bangladesh in Action’, SoftExpo-2011 is also going to take place in participation of different companies from home and abroad. A total of 110 local companies will be showcasing their latest products and services during the show while 10 foreign companies from Europe will also participate in – paving the way for the globally-renowned ICT companies to be aware further about the local market, make arrangements for outsourcing opportunities here and help bring in foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh’s booming digital economy.
AKM Fahim Mashroor said that this year the organizers would focus on youths during the expo. There’ll be ‘IT Job Fair’ on February 02, 03 & 04 on the sideline of this year’s show. Around 20 renowned companies will offer more than 100 ICT-based job opportunities to the youths from this fair. An ‘Award Night’ will also be held on February 04.
This year, the expo has been planned in seven zones – Business Software zone, e-Commerce zone, e-Governance zone, Communication zone, Mobile Application zone, Multimedia & Animation zone and Outsourcing zone.
More than 20 seminars and business sessions will be held during the exhibition to be attended by key decision-makers and renowned experts from home and abroad. The five-day SoftExpo-2011 will remain open from 10:00am to 8:00pm everyday. Entry fee has been fixed at Tk 30.
This year, the organisers are expecting more than 1,00,000 visitors in this gala ICT event that’ll feature different kinds of exhibitors including the software and IT Enabled Services companies, e-Governance solution providers, mobile content and application developers, communication solution providers, e-commerce portals, ICT training institutes and outsourcing companies.
BASIS President expressed his satisfaction with the overall preparations and arrangements of the exhibition. He said that the SoftExpo-2011 would outshine all its previous arrangements in terms of size and participation. Foreign investors will also get fair scopes to consider various business aspects for bilateral contract with the local ICT-based companies, he said, citing that a good number of ICT companies from Europe will visit the expo and thereby decide on investment in the country’s fast-growing software and ITES sector.
Co-organisers of this year’s expo are Science & ICT Ministry and Access to Information Program under PM’s Office (PMO). Grameenphone IT has been chosen as the Platinum Sponsor while Reve Systems is the Gold Sponsor. BRAC Bank, Microsoft and ICT Business Promotion Council are the proud co-sponsors of this year’s software extravaganza. For further information, log on www.softexpo.com.bd
