Dhaka — Bangladesh state minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak has said that domestic technology companies, mobile financial services and startups have played an effective role in keeping the wheel of Bangladesh's economy afloat in the Corona epidemic.
The state minister was speaking at the SDG startup-based accelerator program organized by Virtual UNDP. The state minister said Bangladesh has made maximum use of technology in times of global epidemic.
He said the innovative thinking of startup organizations is playing an important role. He mentioned that the innovative thinking of the winning teams will play a positive role in Bangladesh and Uganda.
Palak outlined the various activities undertaken and implemented under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, including 39 Hi-Tech Parks, 64 Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centers, 300 Schools of the Future, 35,000 Sheikh Russell Digital Labs.
Noting that the present government is giving more importance to startup ecosystem in the country and this has increased the amount of foreign investment in the country, the ICT Minister expressed hope that Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed will be a knowledge-based, technology-based, developed country by 2041.
Representatives from Good Social Enterprise, Fundfina, MyCash, Swadhin, WHRRL, Agro Supply, Borlag, Falmingo Food, Four Farming and Nafia Farmers Market presented various information while participating in the Accelerator event.
Welcoming remarks were made by Essen Altu, Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkey and Director of EU Affairs, Ugandan Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, among others. Monica Monica Musenero, UNDP Resident Representative in Turkey Luisa Viton and Managing Director of UN Technology Bank Joshua Setipa.
Later, 4 startups in the Accelerator program were declared winners. Among them are an independent and good social enterprise of Bangladesh and Flamingo Food and Nafia Farmers Market of Uganda.
