Salman F Rahman, private industry and investment affairs adviser to the prime minister, on Saturday said Bangladesh wants to use Uzbekistan’s strategy and experience for innovation.
The adviser said Bangladesh has urged Uzbekistan to invest in innovative business sectors at the marginal level in Bangladesh and assured the country of providing all types of supports.
The two countries will sign a virtual memorandum of understanding (MoU) in October in this regard, he said.
A team of IT entrepreneurs led by Salman F Rahman visited Innovation Center in Tashkent to learn how Uzbekistan has advanced in innovation in just four years.
During the visit, Bangladesh team observed how intensively this organisation is working on research and innovation of new products and services.
Ibrokhim Y. Abdurakhmonov, minister of Innovative Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan, said, “We are giving importance to 13 areas in the field of research and innovation.
Already USD 100 million has been invested. Our neighboring countries are now working here on the basis of partnership agreement.’’
“We also urged Bangladesh to invest here in marginal level if it wants. We will also stand by them with strategy and policy supports, ’’ Abdurakhmonov said.
Taking Uzbekistan’s proposals into consideration, PM’s adviser said Bangladesh government is committed to building a digital Bangladesh. If policies and strategies are exchanged on the basis of joint partnership between the two countries, Bangladesh will be enriched, he added.
When asked whether a separate ministry for research and innovative development will be created, the PM’s adviser said it will be reviewed if necessary.
State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak said Bangladesh government has already taken several initiatives to take the sector forward.
A view-exchange meeting between high-level officials of the two countries was held where Uzbekistan shared how the country has made so much progress in the field of research and science.
According to Uzbekistan, Belarus and other neighboring countries will continue to invest in the research sector on the basis of membership agreement.