Online Desk: Bangladesh’s remarkable achievements in digital innovation and the government’s ongoing initiatives to build a smart nation by 2041, ensuring sustainable development, were showcased in a side event of the ongoing 80th session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok.

The sideline event titled ‘Smart Innovation for Sustainable Development: Perspective from Bangladesh and the Region’ was held at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday.

The event drew a diverse array of attendees, including representatives from United Nations member states and delegates from different countries, development agencies, international organizations, civil society members, academia, and the private sector, according to a press release.

ICT Division and Bangladesh Embassy in Bangkok organized the event that projected Bangladesh’s remarkable journey in digital innovation and its implications for sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific region.

Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, State Minister for the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak took part in the event as panel discussants, which showcased Bangladesh’s flagship initiatives like Digital Centres, AI-based voice-enabled platform ‘National Helpline 333’, NISE, e-Quality Centre.

Speaking at the event Finance Minister said Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said, “We have been sharing knowledge and technology innovations in public service delivery to global Southern countries. We firmly believe such an exchange of knowledge and technology will help us all grow together”.

As Bangladesh is progressing towards fulfillment of SDGs, the government has introduced the International ICT Innovation -i3 (i cube) matching fund to help accelerate the digital transformation of global countries.

In his address, Palak said, “About two million of jobs have been created in the ICT sector in Bangladesh in the last 15 years. There are 700,000 freelancers in the country who are working staying at homes and earning handsome amounts of foreign currencies from online marketplaces”.

Secretary of the Economic Relations Division Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky delivered the concluding remarks at the event and a2i Project Director (Additional Secretary) Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan moderated it.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand Mohammed Abdul Hye delivered his welcome address while a2i Policy Advisor Anir Chowdhury presented the keynote on the topic.

The event drew a diverse array of attendees, including representatives from United Nations member states, government officials, delegates spanning various countries, development agencies, international organizations, civil society, academia, and the private sector.

Their enthusiastic participation lent a vibrant energy to the occasion, ensuring robust and inclusive dialogues conducive to knowledge sharing, strategic collaboration and forging of partnerships across different sectors and stakeholders engaged in this cooperative endeavor.