2009年-世界发展银行全球_Leveraging_ICT_for_Growth_and_Competition_in_Bangladesh___ITITES_Industry_Development_48页_1mb

Summary of "Leveraging ICT for Growth and Competitiveness in Bangladesh: IT/ITES Industry Development"

Core Content

This report provides an analysis of Bangladesh's potential in the IT/ITES (Information Technology and Information Technology Enabled Services) industry and outlines a strategic framework for its development over the next five years. It highlights the importance of leveraging ICT for both economic and social growth, emphasizing the need for a unified, focused, and government-supported program to achieve tangible progress.

Main Objectives

The primary goal of the proposed program is to establish Bangladesh as a competitive player in the global IT/ITES market within five years. The key objectives are:

• Achieve yearly IT/ITES export revenues of USD $500 million
• Generate over 30,000 direct, high-value jobs in the IT/ITES sector
• Achieve 25% women's employment in the industry
• Increase youth employment
• Position Bangladesh among the top 50 IT/ITES destinations globally

Key Findings and SWOT Analysis

Strengths

• Abundant, young, and trainable labor force
• Low IT/ITES labor costs compared to India, China, and Pakistan
• Supportive government and active industry associations

Weaknesses

• Inadequate quantity, quality, and relevance of skilled workforce
• Weak, unreliable, and inconsistent infrastructure
• Fragmented and uncoordinated industry initiatives
• Poor business environment due to corruption, slow business setup, and security issues
• Lack of cohesive workforce development programs targeting youth and women

Threats

• Skilled labor being diverted to other sectors
• Declining IT course enrollments
• Insufficient English proficiency to capture ITES opportunities
• Policy and regulatory framework not adequately supporting business environment
• Risk of strikes ("hartals") disrupting commercial activity

Opportunities

• Global financial crisis creating demand for cost-cutting solutions
• IT Park-type initiatives to improve infrastructure, policy, and market visibility
• High potential for youth employment due to a young population
• High female participation in IT/ITES in India and the Philippines as a model

Industry Status and Trends

• The overall IT/ITES industry in Bangladesh is valued at USD $117 million (39% of total ICT value), with a high growth rate of 40% over the last five years
• Export values have been unstable, with yearly growth rates ranging from -8% to 113%
• The global IT/ITES market is estimated at USD $475 billion annually, with only 15% (about USD $65 billion) currently exploited
• The market is expected to grow significantly, with projections of USD $700–800 billion by 2012

Strategic Framework and Recommendations

Strategic Focus

• Develop a unified and concrete program with input from all stakeholders
• Focus on skills development, industry promotion, policy reform, and infrastructure improvement

Strategic Assessment

• Immediate actions should leverage existing strengths
• Early interventions are needed to build momentum in key areas
• A structured, multi-year approach is essential to address skills, infrastructure, and policy issues

Proposed Program Components

1. Skills Development and Workforce Training: Enhance employable skills, especially among youth and women
2. Industry Promotion and Market Visibility: Strengthen the industry's image and attractiveness as a destination
3. Policy and Regulatory Reforms: Improve the business environment and support industry growth

Implementation Arrangements

• National Program Steering Committee (NPSC): To oversee and coordinate the program
• Program Implementation Team (PIT): To execute the program and monitor progress

Industry Segmentation

The IT/ITES industry is segmented into two main categories:

IT Services

• Application services (development, integration, maintenance)
• Engineering services (system integration, IT infrastructure, consulting)

IT-Enabled Services (ITES)

• Business process services (customer interaction, HR, finance, supply chain)
• Knowledge process outsourcing (data analytics, legal research, animation)

Conclusion

Bangladesh has the potential to become a significant player in the global IT/ITES industry, given its young and trainable workforce, low labor costs, and supportive government policies. However, the lack of coordination, coherent strategy, and infrastructure development has hindered progress. A unified program, supported by the government and aligned with stakeholder goals, is essential to unlock the sector's full potential and ensure sustainable growth and competitiveness.