The first security surveillance equipment manufacturing plant in Bangladesh was inaugurated at Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City in Kaliakair on Friday, 25 March 2022. N M Zeaul Alam PAA, Senior Secretary, ICT Division, inaugurated the plant as the Chief Guest. Bikarna Kumar Ghosh, Managing Director, Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority, Hugo Huang, President of Hikvision South Asia and current president of Bangladesh Computer Samity Md. Shahid-ul-Munir & its newly elected president Engr. Subrata Sarkar was present as the Special Guests. The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Goutam Saha, Managing Director of Excel Technologies Ltd & Excel Intelligent Solutions Ltd.

The inaugurated factory will manufacture security surveillance equipment of world’s number one security surveillance solution brand ‘Hikvision’. Excel Intelligent Solutions Ltd., a sister concern of Excel Technologies Ltd., which is the first and national distributor of Hikvision in Bangladesh, established the manufacturing plant. This factory was set up at the service building of Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City.  China’s leading security surveillance solution provider Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd. provided the technical assistance.

Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function, NM Ziaul Alam PAA, Senior Secretary, ICT Division, said he was happy to inaugurate Bangladesh’s first security surveillance equipment manufacturing plant at Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City. He said “investment in our country’s IT sector is on the rise, setting up these manufacturing plants is a prime example, and the world’s top security surveillance product like Hikvision is being manufactured in Bangladesh, which is a huge achievement for us”. As a result of making many devices in our country now, the ‘Made in Bangladesh’ program is gaining momentum. For this reason, the government is going to announce ‘Made in Bangladesh Policy’ very soon. In fact, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was science-minded, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taught us to dream, so today we are able to achieve so much. He said the government is giving priority to locally produced products in tenders so that the market for home-made products can be created, production can be increased and exports can be made upon meeting up the domestic demand. On the other hand, information technology has become essential with its increasing use in the government departments. The government is providing about three thousand public services, most of which are using information technology. Investment is increasing in tandem with the advancement of information technology. As the ICT Division is playing a special role in these cases, it has been selected as the best ministry in the country for two consecutive years. He expressed satisfaction over the activities of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority and wished success and prosperity to the joint venture of Excel and Hikvision.

Special guest of the event, Managing Director of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority Bikarna Kumar Ghosh at the beginning of his speech paid homage to all the martyrs including Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the eve of Genocide Day on 25 March and Independence & National Day on 26 March. He mentioned that the country’s first and largest high-tech park has been named as ‘Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City’ in honor of the Father of the Nation. He said that through the announcement of ‘Digital Bangladesh’ program in 2008, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her IT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy had given advice and guidance to bring the entire IT sector in our country under one ecosystem. We are working accordingly. At the earliest stage of the ecosystem, digital labs have already been set up in 13,000 schools to build the future citizens of the country as skilled human resources. By 2030, another 25,000 labs will be set up and digital labs will be set up in every school in the country. Education and training on technology related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution will be imparted in these schools from the earliest stage. On the other hand, through the use of information technology as a cross-cutting sector in all other sectors, its benefits will be brought to the doorsteps of the people. He said the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority is an essential part of the ecosystem and cross-cutting activities. Further, we encourage foreign direct investment and provide them with special facilities. So with the help of the Authority, several high-tech parks have already started making laptops and other devices of different brands from home and abroad. That is why employment is being created for the youth here. He hoped that Bangladesh would become a hub for production of ICT products, 75% youth population would be employed and we would become the number one developed nation in terms of per capita income surpassing all other countries in the world during the centenary celebration of the country. He thanked Excel and Hikvision for their involvement in the activities of the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority by producing state-of-the-art security surveillance equipment at Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City.

Hugo Huang, President of Hikvision South Asia, another special guest at the event, said: “Today is a very happy day for Hiksvision. This is because the production of Hikshiven brand products has started in Bangladesh as the third country after Brazil and India outside China. We are happy and proud to be able to provide technical assistance. He said that while Hikvision is the world’s number one maker of security surveillance equipment, it also produces other high-tech products, technological innovations and services, such as robotics, IoT, artificial intelligence, etc. He said Bangladesh’s economy is growing. The ‘Digital Bangladesh’ and ‘Made in Bangladesh’ programs are playing a special role in this regard. Hikvision is ready to provide assistance in these cases. He thanked the ICT Division and the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority for creating the opportunity for the production of security surveillance products of Hikvision Brand in ‘Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City’.

Goutam Saha, Managing Director of Excel Technologies Ltd and Excel Intelligent Solutions Ltd said: “With the inauguration of Bangladesh’s first security surveillance equipment manufacturing plant at Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City, we are happy and proud that we have ushered in a new era in the country’s ICT industry and ‘Made in Bangladesh’. He said, “I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all concerned including the ICT Division and the Bangladesh High-tech Park Authority for creating this opportunity.” He further said that development work of two acres of land leased to us is going on here to make this early stage industrial plant on a large scale. He expressed hope that Excel will be able to start production of more Hikvision Security Cameras and accessories and other accessories within the next year at Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City such that the security surveillance equipment could be exported soon by meeting the domestic demand. In addition, other brands of digital devices, networking, telecom, AI and robotics equipment will be gradually produced here.

The inaugural function was attended by senior officials of ICT Division and Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority, top IT entrepreneurs, businessmen and leaders, industrialists at Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City and journalists from various media.

After the inaugural ceremony of the manufacturing plant, there was groundbreaking for the development of  two acres of land leased in the name of Excel Intelligent Solutions Ltd. for the establishment of large scale security surveillance equipment and other digital devices & networking, telecom, AI and robotics equipment at Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City