Bangladesh-Sri Lanka to work together to boost digital economy

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have agreed to work together over a dozen of areas to boost digital economy and establish a knowledge-based society.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this end was signed between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on Friday at the Prime Minister's Office in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena.

Bangladesh State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Sri Lankan Deputy Minister for Finance and Mass Media Lasantha Alagiyawana signed the agreement on behalf of the respective governments.

As per the agreement, both the countries will pursue the greater use of Digital Technologies (DTs) for sustainable development focusing in the areas of digital economy and establishing knowledge-based society.

They will work together in the areas, including IT/ITES industries, national policies, programmes, legislation, institutions, regulatory framework, cyber security, use of DTs on digital government and digital health and for education, smart cities, ecommerce, financial inclusion through sharing respective best practices, the agreement said.

It said Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will explore mutually beneficial investment opportunities such as investment in Hi-Tech Parks/economic zones, developing joint market promotion in global IT/ITES supply chains.

"The government gives high priority to development of the country's ICT sector as it targets to earn $5b from ICT export by 2021," said Palak.

"Bangladesh is rapidly emerging as ICT destination as Jessore Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park is ready for investment and construction work of Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City is going on full swing," he said.

Palak said both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will work together on win-win basis in many areas, including in the fields of investments, IT/ITES sector to build digital economy.

Source: unb