Silicon Valley, the apex of global technology and innovation, paid its homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his centennial birth anniversary for his outstanding contributions towards social, economic and political transformation as well asenvisioninga prosperous and self-sustained nation which he commonly referred to as “Shonar Bangla” or Golden Bengal.
On behalf of Silicon Valley, Lisa M. Gillmor, Mayor, City of Santa Clarapresenteda crest honoringthe father of the nation of Bangladesh at the “US-Bangladesh Tech Investment Summit”on Monday last which will be handed over to Bangabandhu’s daughter, Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina.
The tech investment summit was organized by Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), the regulatory body of the capital market of Bangladesh in assistance with Eastern Bank Ltd., Walton and Nagad; supported by American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh; and in partnership with Venture Capital and Private Equity Association of Bangladesh (VCPEAB) and TiE Global hasthe final chapter of its week-long roadshow in the USA.
The tech conference was attended by Bangladeshi delegates led by BSEC’s Chairman Professor Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam and representatives from the concerned ministries and regulatory authorities, dignitaries including Salman F. Rahman, the Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister; Abdur Rouf Talukder, Senior Secretary of Finance Division;Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Secretary of Ministry of Commerce;Fatima Yasmin, Secretary of Economic Resources Division;Md. Sirazul Islam, Executive Chairman of BIDA; and Major General Md. Nazrul Islam, Executive Chairman of BEPZA among others.
AnisUzzaman, Founder and CEO, Pegasus Tech Ventures;Tina Jabeen,Managing Director, Startup Bangladesh and Rahat Ahmed, Founding Partner & CEO, Anchorless Bangladeshdelivered the keynote speeches in the conference.
NRBs, investors and top-level executives from USA and Bangladesh participated in the conference and highlighted emerging market opportunities, possibilities for collaboration between tech investors and tech entrepreneurs, and the huge untapped market in Bangladesh where the government is heavily incentivizing foreign investments.
Lisa M. Gillmor, Mayor, City of Santa Clara said, “I would like to take this opportunity to encourage the companies in Silicon Valley to seek business expansion prospects in emerging countries like Bangladesh. The country has achieved remarkable progress in accelerating inclusive development – a unique experiment to understanding the policies and drivers of socio-economic development – that can be followed by developing countries around the world.”
Salman F. Rahman, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the Honorable Prime Minister said, “Bangladesh has facilitated the ICT sector and is growing with the support of the public and private sector.” He also added, it is time for everybody to come and invest in Bangladesh.”
Prof. Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam, Chairman of Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) said, “The economic capacity of the people of Bangladesh has increased significantly in the past 10 years and there is a huge market existing here".