Wintel to set up migrants’ resource centre

A telecom solutions provider is setting up Bangladesh’s first migrants’ resource centre aiming to cater to the needs of millions of overseas job-seekers, the head of Wintel Limited said Tuesday. Faisal Alim, managing director, said the country’s largest value-added service provider for the telecom industry is now awaiting approval from the telecom regulator BTRC for a “premium” code to operate the centre. “Our aim is to open the centre early next month. We’re just waiting for the approval for a four-digit code to run it,” Mr Alim said.

“This centre will provide ‘one stop service’ to the Bangladeshi migrant community. Any migrant-potential or returnee-can avail the dedicated service,” he added.

Established in 2001, Wintel has cemented its business grounding in areas as diverse as making outer casings for cell phone companies to manufacturing of electronic chip cards and mobile phone marketing.

It is also providing telecom services for top mobile phone operators including GrameenPhone.

Some 6.3 million Bangladeshis and millions of others, who live and work abroad, send home billions of dollars each year. Money remitted by migrants help Bangladesh cut poverty, shore up balance of payment (BoP) and stimulate domestic demand.

Mr Alim said any potential migrant worker can get information related to overseas jobs by dialing the specialized code number.

“We’ll charge Tk 5 for per minute call to the centre. I think, it will generate enthusiasm among the migrant population and act as a vital vehicle,” he told the FE.

He added that even returnee migrants would be given support and information needed to open a business venture or secure bank credits.

Officials noted that the company is in the process of signing deals with 15 private banks and scores of manpower recruiting agents to facilitate the service delivery.

Backed by a Bangladesh Bank project and a Dutch company, the resource centre would help migrant workers locate relevant government and private agencies. The Dutch company was engaged to do the digital mapping of the Dhaka city.

“Our service model is partly derived from the American money transfer operator Placid Express. We will notify remittance recipients about the transfer of money and the exchange rates of major foreign currencies,” Mr Alim said.

“Our centre is equipped in a way so that it can respond to ethnic languages,” he added.

Today, Bangladesh is one of top 10 remittance recipient nations in the developing world, according to the World Bank.

Last year, the country netted US $9.0 billion in remittance, boosted by record 875,000 overseas jobs.

Source: Financial Express