BASIS SoftExpo begins tomorrow to showcase local skills

 Aiming to focus on Bangladesh`s skills, innovation and strength in IT and IT enabled services (ITES) in international arena, country`s largest private sector software showcasing begins here tomorrow.

The "BASIS SoftExpo 2017" is being organized by Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), leading trade body of the sector, at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).

Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury is scheduled to open the four-day exposition in the morning. BASIS is hosting the event for the 11th time. Its slogan this year is "Future in Motion".

Talking to BSS, BASIS President Mustafa Jabbar today said the expo has totally concentrated on exhibiting local products and solution.

"We will demonstrate our competency on IT and ITES products and solution. . . it`s time to showcase our ability and strength as Bangladesh has moved ahead in last 10 years," he said.

Mentioning that Bangladesh has tremendous achievement and success in IT and ITES sector, the noted expert said the people of different sectors who use foreign hardware and software for their business should know about local products. "We want to keep our money inside the country offering our world class solution," added Mustafa Jabbar.

Since 2002, BASIS has been organizing the largest private sector exposition with a view to stimulating the growth of the industry through promotion and development, invention and research of IT and ITES products and services in Bangladesh.

BASIS SOFTEXPO 2017 convener Syed Almas Kabir told BSS that over 140 local firms are participating in the expo to showcase their products and innovation before the local banks, government, telecom operators, business organizations, foreign companies as well as IT users.

"We`ve also focused on the market of European Union (EU) that`s why B2B (business-to-business) sessions have been organized to match-make the local firms with EU buyers," said Kabir, also the director of BASIS.

He said the exhibition area has been divided into four separate zones -- Business Software Zone, ITES and BPO Zone, Mobile Innovation Zone and E-Commerce Zone.

Local and foreign business match making session will be arranged in order to business expansion of IT ventures. A business lounge will be arranged as an added value for the exhibitors. Besides, Leaders` Meet, Developer Conference, Tech Women and other notable events will be available this year.

"A separate Coding Programme event for children will be an addition to this year`s BASIS SOFTEXPO," added Kabir.

Over 500,000 visitors are expected to visit this year`s BASIS SOFTEXPO 2017, which will be a congregation of ICT companies, personalities, key policy makers, industry leaders and other ICT stakeholder`s including national and international exhibitors, business leaders, students as well as general visitors.

In the four-day expo, about 20 seminars will be arranged, which will cover different topics including Level Playing Field Cover for the local companies, digital education and e-learning, mobile application development, internet of thinks, access to finance, cloud computing, data networking security, export market promotion, developing innovation ecosystem, digital services delivery, IT market research and quality certification.

Besides, to address ICT related different issues, more than 10 tech sessions will be organized.

Any interested person can take the opportunity of free entry through online registration. For online registration and information, anyone can visit BASIS SOFTEXPO website (http://www.softexpo.com.bd). Event update is available on SOFTEXPO Facebook official page (http://www.fb.com/BASIS.SoftExpo/).