Press Release: BIBC Opening Ceremony

Subject: Inauguration Ceremony of Bangladesh Information and Communication Technology Business Center (BIBC) in Silicon Valley

Santa Clara, California - May 11, 2003 - Bangladesh Information and Communication Technology Business Center (BIBC) was formally opened in Silicon Valley today amid great enthusiasm among Non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) and Bangladeshi companies in the ICT Sector. The program, largely attended by local NRBs, representatives from the US business community and a strong Bangladeshi delegation, was organized in the Santa Clara Convention Center in the city of Santa Clara, California.

Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia formally announced the inauguration of BIBC via a video message. She encouraged and lauded the establishment of this center. She further called upon Bangladeshis everywhere to show their patriotism, saying, "I invite successful Bangladeshis everywhere to get involved with their motherland by participating and assisting in these kinds of efforts in whatever capacity they can".

Mr. Suhel Ahmed, Secretary of Commerce, Government of Bangladesh, gave the special address on this occasion. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of the ICT sector as a major thrust factor. "Realizing the prospects of the ICT sector, the Government of Bangladesh has attached great importance to the development as well as export of IT products and services. We have already set up ICT Business Promotion Council with representation from key Government Ministries/Departments, ICT trade bodies and private firms. ", he added. Consul General of Bangladesh, Los Angeles, Mr. M. A. K. Mahmood was also present.

The Supervisor of Santa Clara County, Mr. Pete McHugh, Mayor of Santa Clara city, Ms. Patricia Mahan, and immediate past mayor of Milpitas city, Mr. Henry Manayan were present as special guests. The honorable US Congressman, Mr. Michael M. Honda and the honorable US Congresswoman Ms. Zoe Lofgren sent congratulatory messages for this special occasion. Mayor Patricia Mahan in her address referred to the Prime Minister's call for helping the motherland highly pertinent as the day fell on the Mother's Day.

Renowned innovator and IT stalwart, Mr. Kamran Elahian, delivered the lunchtime address highlighting his experience in South Korea and he also mentioned that Bangladesh has a potential to become a mini Silicon Valley. After the formal presentation and lunch, there was a lively Question-Answer session actively participated by everyone, which lasted over two hours.

The ICT delegation from Bangladesh headed by Commerce Secretary Mr. Suhel Ahmed including BASIS President Mr. Habibullah Karim, IBPC Vice Chair, ISPAB President Mr. Akhtaruzzaman Manju, BCS President Mr. Sabur Khan, BCC Executive Director Dr. A. M. Choudhury, ISPAB Past President Mr. S. M. Iqbal and ISPAB Vice President Mr. Mohammed Abdus Salam were present at the ceremony and answered questions from the audience.

The event was well organized and over 200 enthusiastic participants took active part throughout the program. The inaugural ceremony marks the beginning of a meaningful presence of Bangladeshi ICT business in the Silicon Valley.

As regards BIBC, it is a project that has been started to have a physical presence of Bangladeshi ICT companies in the heart of the Silicon Valley. BIBC is a sub-project of Bangladesh ICT Promotion Council (IBPC), which was established to promote ICT business in Bangladesh. IBPC is a good example of public and private sector participation in Bangladesh, where all the ICT trade bodies namely BASIS, BCS and ISPAB are represented. The principal objective of the BIBC is facilitating Bangladeshi ICT companies to penetrate US and global ICT market. The Ministry of Commerce, Government of Bangladesh, had prepared the initial project plan with the assistance of the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) of the Bangladesh Export Diversification Project (BDXDP). World Bank is backing the project financially. American Association of Bangladeshi Engineers and Architects (AABEA), Silicon Valley Chapter, is providing all logistical and execution support to the Government of the Peoples Republic Bangladesh (GOB) to establish BIBC.

For further information please contact
Mr. Enayetur Rahman
Director of Operations
BIBC
info@bictbc.org
http://www.bibc.biz