Today Infocom has morphed into one of the most successful IT events, where users and industry players -- stars from within and outside India -- come together to figure out the future of the field. This year over 1,000 delegates attended the fair.

Bangladesh has been taking part in Infocom since its launching in 2002 with the status of an observer. This year, for the first time, 12 interactive organisations participated in Infocom, which offered them a chance to represent their IT products as well as the total IT sector of Bangladesh.

Insoft Ltd, one of the country's leading IT houses, was selected as the marketing partner (for Bangladesh) of the December 7-11 Infocom 2005 held in Kolkata.

"First interactive participation in the Infocom has opened the door for Bangladesh for outsourcing in IT field," said Insoft Ltd Managing Director M Shoeb Chowdhury, sharing his experience of the exhibition and the conferences.

"We could not present all our products this time but have successfully introduced the IT sector of Bangladesh to the world," he added.

On what Bangladesh gained from Infocom 2005, he said the IT people from across India got an clear idea about the IT sector in Bangladesh and its possibilities. Now all we need is to show them our performance.

"We need to ensure Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) instead of Business Process outsourcing (BPO) to turn Bangladesh into a preferred destination for outsourcing," mentioned Chowdhury.

He informed that many of the international companies have shown keen interest regarding outsourcing in Bangladesh. However, he also said that Bangladesh cannot expect a good deal at the moment until and unless the existing obstacles of the IT sector are removed.

"Most of the prominent IT and software companies in the country haven't take part this year but we are trying to ensure their participation from next year and onwards," hoped Chowdhury.

"In this technology era you cannot hide anything to get business. The world knows the potentiality of Bangladesh in respect of expertise and merit; they also have the idea regarding the infrastructure here that is not IT friendly," said Chowdhury.

He suggested resolving the obstacles such as fiber optics connectivity and legalisation of VOIP and call centre.

"We need to work in joint venture with the foreign companies and preferably with Indian ones. And this is only possible by participating in such exhibitions on a regular basis," said Chowdhury.

He said that government of West Bengal has shown keen interest to help flourishing the IT sector of Bangladesh. Talking about a meeting among the IT minister of West Bengal Manabendra Mukherjee and Bangladeshi delegates, Chowdhury said, "The minister feels that Bangladesh is not only their neighbour but West Bengal has an emotional relation with our country. The minister also suggested us to give emphasis on the infrastructure for outsourcing in our country,"

West Bengal is already on its track to become one of the future IT hubs of India, the country that now doing a trillion-dollar business in IT.

"We are also on the track of the IT market for several years but could not make our mission successful due to lack of vision, proper guideline from the government and negligence to this sector," he said.

"Sending a CD abroad is still a matter of permission from three/four ministries and it's a process of two three months," he informed.

He mentioned that VOIP and call center are still illegal here which is depriving Bangladesh from being outsourced million dollars job.

He also gave emphasis to make a long term planning for development of IT sector in Bangladesh. On this regard he mentioned that West Bengal has taken a 10 years future plan from a leading IT and software farm in the world.

Above everything Chowdhury believes the IT sector of Bangladesh can become one of the leading foreign currency earners, as we have a skilled manpower and world standard expertise. All we need is make best use of them.