Imparting of skills crucial for fair 4IR benefit distribution: experts

Bangladesh needs imparting skills among youths along with providing appropriate education from the school to the university levels for fair distribution of benefits of fourth industrial revolution (4IR).

This was stated by foreign and local experts at a national workshop on 4IR organised by the foreign ministry in the capital on Tuesday.

Chief guest foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali said that the fourth industrial revolution is rolling out so silently, yet bringing impacts infinitely.

The country required readiness for adapting fast with the changes at both micro and macro levels in the government, in business and in research, he added.

Foreign secretary M Shahidul Haque said finding avenues of people-centric innovation and increasing analytical abilities would be essential for facing future challenges in all aspects including business and political negotiations at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

“Appropriate schooling is essential for increasing ability for critical thinking. Role of the universities is also crucial for research and creating knowledge and quality human resources,” said Shailesh Shardha, head of the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in India.

Sonia Bashir Kabir, managing director of Microsoft Bangladesh, stressed the need for increasing understanding and knowledge of the citizens in general, youths in particular to maximise benefit of using technology.

Fifty per cent of the population are under 30 years of age, she added.

Syed Nasim Manzur, managing director of Apex Footwear Limited, said Bangladesh youths “lack right skills and we need to overcome this constraint” for moving beyond gross average in respective areas.

“Investing in schools is the key,” he said.

Apex Footwear Limited MD also asked the industries to provide incentives for funding initiatives for establishing innovation laboratories and research.

Incepta Pharmaceuticals chairman Abdul Muqtadir said universities should train people to remove human resource constraints.

Denim expert Mostafiz Uddin said maintaining transparency and innovation is essential for maintaining sustainability and making profit in business.

Bangladesh high commissioner in Sri Lanka Riaz Hamidullah coordinated the workshop while Nalinde Jayasekara of MAS Intimates Limited and Naadia Buhary of Brandix Sri Lanka of the island country also spoke, among others.