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ECNEC okays Tk 2,542cr EDGE project

BI Report || BusinessInsider

Published: 16:20, 7 December 2021  
ECNEC okays Tk 2,542cr EDGE project

Photo: Collected

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved a Tk 2,541.64-crore Enhancing Digital Government and Economy (EDGE) project in a bid to create necessary environment for digital economy and also ensuring its flourish in Bangladesh.

The approval came from the 7th ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year (FY22) with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The premier joined the meeting virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence while ministers, state ministers, Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned attended the meeting from the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that the meeting approved a total of 10 projects involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 7,447.07 crore. “Of the total project cost, Tk 3,682.28 crore will come from the government of Bangladesh portion, Tk 153.81 crore from the organisations concerned own fund while the rest of Tk 3,610.98 crore as project loans,”

State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam, Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned attended the briefing.

Of the approved 10 projects, five are new while five others are revised projects.

The planning minister said that Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under the ICT Division will implement the EDGE project by December 2026. Out of the total estimated cost of Tk 2,541.64 crore for the EDGE project, the government will provide Tk 34.59 crore while the rest of Tk 2,507.05 crore will come from the IDA of the World Bank.

The EDGE project will ensure an integrated, cloud-computing digital platform for all government agencies and improve cyber-security, which will result in savings of $200 million in the public sector’s IT investments. Further, it will build resiliency during future crises, whereby the platform will enable the government to operate virtually and deliver critical public services to citizens and businesses.

Nagad
Monetary Policy Stance
Budget 2020-21
Walton