Freelancing Conference at BICC in Bangladesh, held on 7 Dec'2012

It is a great pleasure and contentment to welcome the world in the Digital World 2012, Bangladesh with the slogan Knowledge to Prosperity. This event celebrates national enthusiasm & achievements along with
commemorating Vision 2021: Digital Bangladesh. Bangladesh has made significant gains to realize

the dreams of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman under the able leadership of his daughter the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Every major historical transformation needs an enabler. Today, advances in technology have left us in no doubt that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is the leading enabler not only for global competitiveness and driving innovation but also for nation’s own prosperity and development.

Information and Communication Technology is being used to leverage economic growth to achieve Vision 2021: Digital Bangladesh. We have taken initiatives such as formulating ICT Policy 2009 with action items, implementation of the ICT Act, enacting the Right to Information Act, establishing the independent Information Commission etc. We have mainstreamed ICT as a pro-poor tool so that we can empower citizens to eradicate poverty, establishing good governance by delivering better citizens services through promoting quality education, healthcare and law enforcement for all etc. in general and Millennium Development Goal (MDG) in particular.

In last 4 years, there has been a significant growth in the access and penetration of communication technology in Bangladesh. In the recent years Bangladesh has witnessed a sea-change in the public service delivery mechanism and the organizational thinking behind it. Riding on the wave of increasing mobile penetration and a forward-looking youth population, the government’s digital initiatives like e-service centers across 64 districts have made services accessible and increased functional citizen charter. For deeper penetration, in rural areas 4698 Union Information & Service Center (UISC) has been successfully established to deliver nation-wide.

I strongly believe that this event will provide excellent opportunity for showcasing projects, programs, initiatives of government and private sector agencies/corporations of the countries to share the knowledge and experiences towards leveraging ICT for economic growth. I also believe that this event would create a great platform to promote greater corporation among the countries of the World through networking of the individuals and practitioners engaged in the development area.

I cordially invite and welcome you all to attend Digital World 2012.

Ref: http://www.digitalworld.org.bd/