Revolutionizing the IT training and education landscape, NIIT a global leader in skills and talent development unveiled a Centre of Excellence in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The first of its kind NIIT Centre of Excellence was inaugurated by Mr. Nurul Islam Nahid, Hon’ble Minister of Education, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
Also present on the occasion were H E Mr. AdarshSwaika, Deputy High Commissioner, IHCto the People’s Republic of Bangladesh;Mr. Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, Eminent Journalist and Columnist; Mr. Sanjay Tickoo, Head, International Education Business (Emerging Markets), NIIT Limited &Mr. K. Khaled, Chairman, GETCO Group.
Inaugurating the NIIT Centre in the country, Mr. Nurul Islam Nahid, Hon’ble Minister of Education, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, said “I am delighted to unveil NIIT’s Centre of Excellence that is in line with our vision of creating a Digital Bangladesh. The present government of Bangladesh came to power with the promise of realizing VISION 2021. Our aim is to build a Bangladesh free from poverty, illiteracy, backwardness and corruption by that time. Our goal is to graduate Bangladesh to a middle-income level country within this timeframe where we can ensure prosperity and a minimum living standard of life for each and every person of the country. We fully understand the challenges ahead of us in realizing this goal and are ready to put every bit of our efforts to achieve the target.”
H E Mr. AdarshSwaika, Deputy High Commissioner, IHC of India to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, said, “India attaches great importance to its relations with Bangladesh, and the extent of our engagement is a testimony to this fact. It is our endeavour to further strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation, and facilitate trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges between our two countries. NIIT has pioneered the category of IT training by creating a digitally savvy workforce, to empower the IT industry.The new NIIT Centre is yet another example of Indo-Bangla cooperation and how both the countries can work together in developing new-age talent for the digital economy.
Information technology has changed the way people work and the next ten years will be about transforming the businesses across all industry sectors. Global spending on digital transformation technologies is expected to cross $2.1 Billion by 2019. By 2018, 35% of IT resources will be spent to support the creation of new digital revenue streams, and by 2020 almost 50% of IT budgets will be tied to digital transformation initiatives.
In 2002 Bangladesh identified ICT as a "thrust sector" as it represents potential for quick wins in reforms, job creation, industry growth, improving governance and facilitating inclusion, and it has high spillover effects in other sectors. Today, in Bangladesh, the overall IT/ITES sector is valued at USD 650 million, with export claiming 39% ($250 million) of that value. The overall IT/ITES industry has enjoyed a high growth rate of 40% over the last five years and this trend is expected to continue. NIIT along with the government of Bangladesh will work towards skilling the youth with futuristic skill-sets in digital transformation to help carve meaningful careers in today’s digital economy.
Mr. Prakash Menon, President, Global Retail Business, NIIT Ltd., remarked, "The world is going through an intensive phase of digital transformation. All existing industries and economies are being disrupted, and this has presented us with great opportunities as well as unique challenges. With our keen understanding of the changing skills requirement of the industry, NIIT is committed to support ‘Digital Bangladesh’ by helping create a talent pool to facilitate digitalization of the country.”
Digital Bangladesh is a significant initiative that aims to address the problems of unemployment and under employmentby creating an ICT enabled digital economy. The initiative will implement IT for management, administration and governance to ensure transparency and accountability at all levels of society and state. To give shape to Digital Bangladesh, development of countrywide ICT infrastructure and human recourse trained in digital skills are the basic needs. The Bangladeshi government's Digital Bangladesh initiative looks to transform the country into a modern, knowledge-based society by 2021.
Sanjay Tickoo, Head, International Education Business (Emerging Markets), NIIT Ltd, said, "This is indeed a very proud moment for us as we are at the threshold of a transformation, driven by Digital Bangladesh initiative of the Government. Through the launch of ‘NIIT Centre of Excellence’ we are committed to support Bangladesh in its human capacity building initiative in line with the vision of Government of Bangladesh. We will be offering cutting edge programs in Big Data, Java Enterprise Apps with DevOps and diginxt-MMS to help create a talent pool armed with futuristic skill-sets aligned to the industry needs. We look forward to further strengthening this initiative, by empowering more and more students and working professionals in the coming years."
Mr. K. Khaled, Chairman, GETCO Group said, “Over the last three decades, NIIT has played a pioneering role in making available job-ready talent across the globe. NIIT’s revolutionary programs in digital transformation will go a long way in helping build a Digital Bangladesh. It is indeed a great honour to partner with NIIT to work towards the greater goal of creating a modern and prosperous Bangladesh.”
