Jashore, Aug 21 (V7N) – Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam today said IT Training and Incubation Centres should be developed as effective hubs for creating employment alongside skilled manpower, startups, innovation and investment, emphasizing demand-based and employment-oriented training over conventional systems.
"Our goal is not just to provide training, but to create the capacity among young people for employment, freelancing and becoming entrepreneurs through training," he said while joining a seminar virtually as the chief guest at the Software Technology Park auditorium in Jashore.
The minister, also Science and Technology Minister, said technology is changing rapidly and therefore, instead of conventional training systems, emphasis should be given to demand-based, skill-based and employment-oriented training based on present and future needs.
He said the number of hours a trainee received training or certificates obtained could not be the sole measure of success. Instead, importance should be given to whether they got a job, became involved in freelancing, became entrepreneurs and could practically utilise the skills they acquired, stressing the need for an after-care system.
Giving special importance to startups and innovation, the minister said, "Alongside creating job seekers, we have to create entrepreneurs, who will create jobs and employment in the digital economy of tomorrow."
He said opportunities would be created at IT Training and Incubation Centres for potential entrepreneurs for training, mentoring, technical assistance, business development, market linkage and connection with investors. Importance had been given through incubation activities to validating business ideas, developing products and services, entering the market, enhancing business capabilities and preparing entrepreneurs for investment.
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Faqir Mahbub Anam further said there was an opportunity to build a strong industry-academia-innovation-investment ecosystem by involving universities, research institutions, startups, banks, venture capital, investors and business organisations.
"The infrastructure, equipment, utilities, maintenance and service quality of IT centres will be brought under an organised management framework to ensure maximum utilisation of unused government establishments," he said.
"There is no alternative to creating skilled manpower, innovation and technology-driven entrepreneurs to further advance Bangladesh and move the country towards an intelligent and knowledge-based economy. We want to develop the IT Training and Incubation Centres as important platforms for creating that national capacity," he added.
The minister expressed hope that effective implementation of the "IT Training and Incubation Centre Operation, Maintenance and Management Guideline-2026" would enhance service quality and efficiency, expand employment and freelancing opportunities for young people, create new entrepreneurs and startups, and create a more favourable environment for domestic and foreign investment in the technology sector.
The programme was chaired by Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority Member Anupam Barua, while Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority Managing Director Md Fazlur Rahman attended as a special guest. Representatives of local administration and law enforcement agencies, and investors were also present.
