'Next budget will be an IT business-friendly one'

Risingbd Desk: Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Monday said ICT sector will get priority in the upcoming budget for the fiscal year 2018-19.

The minister made the assurance while speaking at a meeting with executive council members of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) at the secretariat.

"Next budget will be an IT business-friendly one. . . the sector will continue to get the government's support," said the finance minister.

During the meeting, some important issues such as tax, VAT on Software and IT/ITES products and services, issuing tax exemption certificate from NBR came up for discussion.

BASIS emphasized that the government should take initiatives to encourage local organizations to use locally developed software and IT services.

The BASIS delegation assured the finance minister that BASIS will continue its cooperation in building Digital Bangladesh.

The finance minister said development in the ICT industry of Bangladesh has set a benchmark for other countries and in this development process BASIS has been working closely with the government.

BASIS senior vice president Farhana A Rahman, Shoeb Ahmed Masud, vice president (admin), Mushfiqur Rahman, vice president (finance) Mustafa Rafiqul Islam and director Didarul Alam were present at the meeting.


risingbd/Dhaka/May 21, 2018/Firoz/AI