DHAKA, Dec 8, 2022 (BSS) - The government will provide financial support to the country's IT companies to train the youths on frontier technologies, including Blockchain, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT).

The World Bank financed Enhancing Digital Government and Economy (EDGE) Project of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) of ICT Division will provide fund for training on advanced technologies to the companies which will commit for job placement in the IT and IT Enabled Sector (IT-ITES).

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Wednesday at the conference room of the EDGE project between Institute of Information Technology (IIT) of Dhaka University and EDGE Project to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the training under a programme titled 'Hire and Train'.

Project Director of EDGE Dr Muhammed Mehedi Hasan and Director of IIT Dr. Mohammad Shafiul Islam Khan put initials on the MoU on behalf of their respective sides.

Adviser to the EDGE project and Managing Director of Startup Bangladesh Sami Ahmed, Deputy Project Director Mohammad Saiful Alam Khan, Professor of IIT Dr. B M Moinul Hossain and Team Leader of Digital Leadership Academy (DLA) Dr Mahfuz Shamim were, among others, present on the occasion.

In an instant reaction on the MoU Senior Secretary of ICT Division N M Zeaul Alam said, 'Hire and Train' is a tested model introduced previously by the Leveraging ICT Project. This model has ensured about 80 percent job in the IT-ITES sector, he said hoping that the same model is being introduced by the EDGE Project to provide jobs of the youths aimed at flourishing the ICT sector.

"This is the second MoU and we will sign the same with another 4/5 companies with an aim to provide training on advanced technologies to 20,000 youths within 5 years," said Dr Mehedi.