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WB urges Bangladesh to further access to digital technologies to boost growth

Xinhua, May 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

The World Bank (WB) on Monday called on Bangladesh to accelerate growth, create more jobs and deliver better public services by further enhancing access to digital technologies.

In a report titled "World Development Report 2016: Digital Dividends," launched here Monday, the bank said that with around 130 million mobile phone subscribers, digital technologies are spreading rapidly in the country.

Bangladesh has one of the cheapest rate to make a phone call, but Internet prices remain high, the report said, adding that more than 100 million people still do not have access to the Internet and the ICT sector accounts for less than 0.5 percent of total employment.

"The World Bank Group is supporting the government's vision of 'Digital Bangladesh' through various complementary investments for the country to fully benefit from the digital dividends," said Qimiao Fan, World Bank country director for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.

To make businesses more productive and innovative, the report suggested that countries should invest in basic infrastructure, reduce the cost of doing business, lower trade barriers, and facilitate entry of start-ups and competition across digital platforms. Endit