Most of the exporters here are not aware of the ongoing changes in the global market, they said noting that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is bringing about a significant change in production, marketing and financial management of the companies to cut cost.

The seminar on 'Use of ICT as a competitiveness tool for export oriented RMG/Knitwear sector' was organised by Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (Basis).

ASM Quasem, chairman of NewAge Group, and Prof Abdul Moyeen of the Department of Management Studies of Dhaka University presented keynote papers at the seminar held at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre on the occasion of Basis Softexpo 2004.

Speaking at the seminar, President of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kutubuddin Ahmed stressed the need for bringing efficiency in corporate houses, saying profit margin from exports has really gone down substantially in recent years.

"It is very difficult to survive. So, it would not be wise to be busy only with making money neglecting other things including improving efficiency in production, financial management and marketing," he said.

In his keynote presentation, ASM Quasem said all documents in exports will be processed electronically in coming days.

Stressing the need for introducing ICT in the RMG units, he said it is possible to reduce cost by doing it. Major buyers including Walmart are placing their orders through Internet. So, it would not be possible to remain in the business without building such capacities, he added.

President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association Fazlul Huq said local entrepreneurs always think of making profit and are less interested in human resource development.

Stressing the need for introducing ICT in the RMG sector, he said RMG factories are trying to use ICT in financial management. Although a production unit is the heart of a garment factory, people who run production unit are not capable of handling computers, Huq observed.

Later, speaking at another seminar as special guest, Syed Manzur Elahi, president of Bangladesh Bankers Association, urged the government to create an enabling environment for software industry so that it can flourish.

Local exporters face serious problems in promoting their products abroad as Bangladesh has serious image crisis, he said.

"We have serious image problem. Bangladesh is known as a country of flood, hartal, etc. So, promoting a Bangladeshi product in the global market is really an uphill task," Elahi felt.

The seminar on 'Financing issues of software companies' was organised by Basis on the occasion of Basis Softexpo 2004.

Basis President Sarwar Alam, President of One Asset Management of Thailand Wiwan Tharahirunchote and Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank Khandakar Muzharul Haque presented keynote papers at the seminar.