DHAKA, Feb 15, 2023 (BSS) – The government has launched a virtual desk in Bangladesh Embassy in South Korea aimed at connecting investors and partners, exploring business and attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in IT sector.

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak inaugurated the virtual desk titled:
 `
Bangladesh IT Connect Portal-South Korea (www.kr.itconnect.gov.bd)’ which will play a role of a catalyst to bring business and investments from South Korea by connecting IT companies of both the countries.

ICT Secretary Md Shamsul Arefin, Ambassador of Bangladesh to South Korea M Delwar Hossain, Managing Director of Startup Bangladesh Sami Ahmed, Project Director of Enhancing Digital Government and Economy (EDGE) Dr Mohammed Mehedi Hassan, 

Director General of Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) Jon Won Kim, President of BASIS Russell T Ahmed, Chief Operating Officer of Ulkasemi Mizan Rahman were, among others, spoke at the function.

The `Bangladesh IT Connect Portal-South Korea’ has been developed jointly by the World Bank financed Enhancing Digital Government and Economy (EDGE) Project of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under ICT Division to make it a Bangladesh and South Korea Business to Business (B2B) connectivity hub which will play a role of matchmaking of IT companies of both the countries, arranging appointment with the embassy, bringing investment from South Korean market. 

Connecting through digital platform State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak said relations between Bangladesh and South Korea have reached a new height in the last 51 years of independence of Bangladesh as both the countries have been cooperating each other in many areas including trade and commerce.
 
“The volume of trade crossed $3 billion mark for the first time in 2022 which was 38.71 percent up from the previous year,” he said, adding Bangladesh’s export to South Korea also reached a record high of $678 million during the same period with 22.9 percent year-on-year growth. 

Seeking cooperation in Bangladesh’s journey towards becoming a Smart Nation by 2041 the state minister said South Korea ranked 5th in the world in terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and it would further continue to provide cooperation by investing here. 

Bangladesh government has already created an enabling environment for investment in the IT sector by building Digital Bangladesh,’ he said, calling upon the IT companies of South Korea to invest in Hi-tech Parks and IT sector. 

Palak proposed for taking up a long term joint skill development programme by Bangladesh and South Korea to provide training to Bangladeshi educated youths.

 He asked the state-owned Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and Bangladesh embassy in South Korea to take immediate step in this regard.

With the inauguration of Bangladesh IT Connect Portal- South Korea the number of such portal so far set up in foreign missions stood at four.

 The necessary information relating to business and investment could be found on the website (www.kr.itconnect.gov.bd). Profiles of more than 80 IT exporting companies and startups from Bangladesh including those who are already making business with South Korea are available in the portal.