Vice-chairman of the Council of Ministers Dr Tulsi Giri has urged all stakeholders to work collectively to establish a common mechanism to reap benefits from the development in the Information and Technology (IT) sector.

Speaking at the inaugural session of 12th edition of the annual IT fete, the 12th CAN Info-Tech at the Birendra International Convention Centre in Kathmandu today, vice-chairman Dr Giri said that the government is working to create an conducive environment where all concerned parties can take benefit from the development in the IT sector.

He said that the websites of ministries of the government will help to bring transparency and accountability in the bureaucracy.

“The High Level Commission for Information and Technology is working for the development of IT sector in the country and the government is committed to assist it,” Dr Giri added.

In the inaugural speech, vice-chairman of the High level Commission for Information Technology, Sharad Chandra Shah, said that the commission has invested all its time to develop physical infrastructure and the laws which are essential for the development of IT in the country.

Biplav Man Shrestha, president of Computer Association of Nepal (CAN), the organiser of the mega IT event, said that the government is not giving proper attention for the development of IT sector of the country.

He expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s apathy to implement policies related to IT.

“The government did not meet the commitments expressed in the World Summit of Information Society (WSIS),” he added.

General Secretary Vivek SJB Rana also spoke in the program.

On the occasion, vice-chairman Dr Giri felicitated CN Upadhaya, coordinator of the CAN Info-Tech for his contribution in holding the mega event since the beginning.

110 different companies including four Indian companies working in the different fields of information and communication technology are participating in the exhibition that will last till March 28.

The latest information and communication technology, hardware and newly developed software are the main features of the exhibition.

“The Nepalese Microsoft office system and Nepali computer software Nepalinux along with exhibition of teli-centres of rural areas and Nepali Pavilion are some of the attractions of the exhibition.

According to CAN, around 300 thousand visitors are expected to observe the Info-Tech. Over 230 thousand people had visited last year’s exhibition.

Altogether 38 experts including 17 foreigners of 10 countries will present working papers on the conference.

Discussions will be held in the topics including infrastructures for IT, development of software, e-commerce, bio-informatics and e-governance, CAN informed.

The association has been organising the IT event annually since last the 12 years.