The name Microsoft made headlines, but India for long has become a popular destination for American companies looking for cost efficiency in jobs that require IT related knowledge and skill.

Not that all of these jobs require programmers or network engineers. Many customer service inquires in America are routed to India to be answered by trained people. American accounting firms send images of invoices and receipts to Bangalore via internet where operators key-in the data into accounting software. Medical transcriptionists type data hearing doctors' recorded counsel. Bangladesh, like India, stands a good chance to attract these jobs.

Sadly, the human resource limit Mr. Gates spoke about is more daunting here, because we lack basic skills in English and computer operating. But this is not a situation we cannot overcome. Government needs to take three immediate steps.

One, ensure good English education in public schools.

Two, supply every primary and high school with computer. True, enough instructors are not available. But as Dr. Yunus said, computer is such a marvellous thing that mere access to it leads people to explore and learn by themselves.

Three, Bangladesh is getting connected to information super-highway this February. Now all corners need to be wired with optic fibre cable so that information do not get bottlenecked at the shores of Bay of Bengal.

Taken together, effect of these steps will be synergistic. For example, English teaching programmes can alleviate lack of skilled English teacher over internet. These steps require money, are complex in implementation, and will give result only in the long haul, may be 10 years later. But the returns are sure and manifold.