The country's largest exposition of software and ICT-enabled services providers kicked off yesterday in Dhaka showcasing the fast growing sector's latest offerings.

Some 140 local companies are taking part in the fair organised by the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

The fair, which is taking place after a lull of four years, is seen as a congregation of ICT companies, personalities, key policymakers, industry leaders and other stakeholders.

Local companies are showcasing their modern products and services to banks, government agencies, telecom operators, businesses and foreign companies as well as IT users.

Parliament Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury opened the four-day expo - BASIS SOFTEXPO 2017.

Software is an emerging exportearning sector for the country and it would act as a driving force for the economy, she said in her speech.

Subsequently, she urged the government to provide incentives to the information technology sector so that it can reach its export target of $5 billion by 2021.

Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the value of the global software market is around $3 trillion.

"BASIS has been working together with the government to expand the footprint of the local software firms abroad," he added.

The government is working together with the private sector to create a business-friendly environ-

ment for the IT sector, said State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak.

The exhibition area has been divided into four separate zones: Business Software Zone, ITES & BPO Zone, Mobile Innovation Zone and e-Commerce Zone.

Since 2003, BASIS has been organising the exposition with a view to stimulating the growth of the industry through promotion, development, invention and research of IT and ITES products and services.

Match-making sessions for local and foreign firms will be organised in order to help local companies expand their ventures.

Some 10 ICT-related technical sessions and 20 seminars will also take place.

The organiser is expecting over 500,000 people to visit this year's

exposition.

BASIS President Mustafa Jabbar, Microsoft Bangladesh Managing Director Sonia Bashir Kabir and Expo Convener Syed Almas Kabir also spoke at the inaugural ceremony.

The exact figure from the export of software and IT-enabled services is hard to come by.

Exports from computer services stood at $152 million in fiscal 2015-16, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau.

Industry people in September last year said the export would stand at about $1 billion - a mark the government targeted to reach in 2018.

The gap is down to many companies bringing in their export earnings in the form of inward remittance, while those incomes are not reported to the government properly.