Press Conference of BASIS SoftExpo 2008
Yesterday, a press conference regarding BASIS SOFTEXPO 2008 was held at the BSRS Bhaban, Kawran Bazar, Dhaka. At the press conference organized by BASIS (Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services), the high officials of BASIS provided various information regarding BASIS SOFTEXPO 2008 to the journalists. BASIS SOFTEXPO is the largest software exhibition of Bangladesh. This year, the five-day exhibition will take place at the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Center. The software exhibition will kick off from 14 February. At the press conference, T I M Nurul Kabir, Convener of SOFTEXPO 2008, shared various information regarding the fair with the reporters. Nurul Kabir said that there were some milestones in each of the previous fairs. This year BASIS got Denmark as their theme country, which he termed as the milestone of the exhibition of this year. Indicating the increasing number of outsourcing works between Denmark and Bangladesh, he said that the flow would continue this year as well. Mr. Kabir informed the journalists that 14-16 delegates were coming from Denmark who would be match making with 50 local companies looking for outsourcing works. Eight Danish companies are also taking part in the exhibition. Convener hoped that this match makings will be able resulted in joint venture outsourcing alike the past. IT Industry Association of Denmark is the associated partner of ASIS Softexpo 2008. Nurul Kabir also indicated that BASIS had convinced UK Trade and Investment office of Bangladesh to include IT in their priority sector. UK Trade and Investment is one of the strategic partners of the exhibition. The other strategic partners are Danish Federation of Small and Medium Industries, Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). Companies from different countries are taking part in the exhibition. Stressing on IT education, Mr. Kabir said that students from some universities were offered to present with their projects in the exhibition. Being asked if there would be any special arrangement for the student or for the small entrepreneurs, he said that a special zone would be there at the fair only for the students and small entrepreneurs. The entry fee for the fair is 20 Tk., while school children will not require any entry fee in order to attract the young generation to IT. President of BASIS, Mr. Rafiqul Islam Rowly said that the IT projects would be showcased in the exhibition of this year. He also added that the exhibition is getting wider after ever year. In response to a question of Business Bangladesh correspondent, Mr. Rafiqul Islam said BASIS always tried to inspire individual enthusiasm, but as it was not an organization, it was not always possible to help in individual sector from the fair. Mr. Islam stressed ever increasing market of software export. Indicating a chronological order of software export, he hoped that BASIS was expecting US $30 million exporting software this year, while the amount had been US $26.8 million previous year. Mr. M. Shoeb Chowdhury, Senior Vice President of BASIS, said that for the first time the chief of the government would be at the opening ceremony of the fair. He also revealed that there would be a media center in the exhibition from where the journalists would be able to use internet and can get help about anything. Mr. A K M Fahim Mashroor, chairman of seminar of Softexpo 2008, introduced the seminar set to be held during the five day long exhibition. Ahmed Hasan, Vice President of BASIS, Shameem Ahsan, Joint Secretary General of BASIS, Co-convener of the exhibition, Mr. Shafquat Haider were also present in the press conference.Labels: BASIS SoftExpo |
