BASIS demands priority to local IT firms for public procurement

Software developers and ICT service providers have urged the government to prioritise local companies in the public procurement policy so as to promote the IT sector, create employment opportunities and produce skilled human resources in the country.

They also proposed providing cash incentives for digital financial services.

President of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) Syed Almas Kabir made the call at the closing ceremony of three-day 'Digital World 2020' held virtually and also at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the city on Friday, said a statement.

He said the BASIS had earlier approached the government agencies with various proposals and recommendations for the development of the local IT sector, which is a major stakeholder of the government's vision to establish a 'digital Bangladesh'.

Urging the government to give preference to local companies for public procurement, Mr Kabir stressed the need for introducing the Request for Proposal (RFP) template.

"The BASIS and the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) jointly prepared a draft in this regard and submitted it to the ICT division," he said, expressing the hope that the RFP template would help local firms perform better, create employment opportunities and enhance skills.

Mr Kabir called on the government to extend support to local IT firms that have already proved their efficacy following their affiliation with local mega projects, to widen their footprints in other countries.

The BASIS leader also called for ensuring 60 per cent local value addition by the foreign companies working in projects funded by the Bangladesh government and local and international donor agencies.

He also said the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division, BASIS, and Access to information (a2i) progrmme developed an e-government portal, which is yet to be operational fully.

"The implementation of e-governance is largely dependent on the e-government portal," he said and drew the attention of the stakeholders in this regard.

Mr Kabir also said the lockdown enforced in the recent times has proved the necessity of digital transactions and digital financial services in the country.

"I would like to propose cash incentives for the service providers and customers to popularise the technology-based service further in Bangladesh," he said.

This is essential for increasing revenue of the government exchequer and ensuring transparency of the financial transactions, he added.

BASIS and the ICT Division co-hosted the seventh edition of the country's biggest technology expo 'Digital World 2020' with the slogan 'Socially distanced, digitally connected'.