JICA Pilot Project
BASIS is working as the implementing partner for the ongoing JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) pilot project for Software export to Japan. ERD, Government of Bangladesh signed a contract with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to undertake a study on potential sub sector growth for export diversification of Bangladesh.
Earlier JICA conducted a study on “Potential Sub-sector Growth for Export Diversification in Bangladesh” through assistance from Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). A six member JICA team primarily made a groundwork selection of 6 sub-sectors which were Food Processing, Jute Products, Pharmaceutical Products, Computer Software, Light Engineering (metalworking and machining) and Electric & Electronic Products, with an objective of picking up two most potential sub-sectors out of these 6 for the study. BASIS (along with other associations/agencies) made several presentations in a series of workshops, meetings and presentations that were arranged for the short-listing of the sectors. Finally, Computer Software was selected by JICA as one of the most potential sub sectors (along with jute) for the purpose of pilot project. BASIS has also been selected by JICA as the implementing partner for the pilot project.
The pilot project for the software sector has been designed in consultant with BASIS to find one of the possible solutions towards the export expansion of the industry, mainly in Japan market. The pilot project entitled ‘Project for Establishing the Institutional Mechanism for Export Marketing of Software Industry in Bangladesh’ has taken Japanese market as a sample, which if successful, is expected to be applied to other non-English speaking markets in future.
Objectives of the pilot project are to enhance export competitiveness of Computer Software Products in the international markets in particular and diversification of Bangladesh export in general, which will be attained through the implementation of specific Action and Master Plans. The pilot project will involve a certain number of companies of the Computer Software sector as the first beneficiaries. A MoU was also signed between Unico International Corporation, the consulting company appointed by JICA, and BASIS regarding cooperation.
To kick off the pilot project, a seminar on the JICA pilot projects took place on 30 September 2007 at EPB Conference Room. The purpose of the seminar was to disseminate the pilot project concept to all stakeholders. 45 officials from the Government including Ministry of Commerce and EPB, various trade bodies including BASIS, International Development Agencies, Japanese Embassy, journalists and media officials and representatives from several distinguished BASIS member companies participated in the seminar.
A second seminar focusing only on the JICA Pilot Project for the Software and ITES sector took place on 23 October, 2007 at EPB Conference Room. The purpose of the seminar was to present a concept of the pilot project and to exchange opinions among the pilot project participants and stakeholders.
The JICA team consisting of Japanese experts visited all the 41 participating companies and collected pertinent information regarding each company for the matchmaking program. Survey forms were also distributed electronically by BASIS and detailed information on each company and projects were collected. This information will be used to produce bi-lingual brochures for all the companies in Japanese and English which will be distributed to Japanese companies that are interested in ICT outsourcing and joint ventures. Initially the JICA team identified 500 Japanese companies as potential targets for this program.
As a consequent phase of the project, on May 12, 2008, a seminar was organized by JICA in Japan where the participating companies attended with enormous interest. The seminar focused on ICT outsourcing in Japan and built a positive interaction among Bangladeshi and Japanese ICT companies.
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JICA Pilot Project
