State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, expressed the potential for Bangladesh's semiconductor sector to become a US$10 billion industry by 2041. Speaking at a seminar organized by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) on "Unleashing the potential of semiconductor industry in Bangladesh," Palak highlighted the need for policy support and incentives to propel the growth of the semiconductor manufacturing industry.
Palak emphasized that while Bangladesh has made progress in semiconductor design, there is a need to focus on chip fabrication, assembly, testing, and packaging. He stressed the importance of government policy support to achieve the target of a $10 billion semiconductor industry by 2041, highlighting the growing demand for microchips and nanochips globally.
The state minister underscored the importance of industry-academia collaboration to develop a skilled workforce tailored to the semiconductor sector's needs. He outlined Bangladesh's digital progress and readiness, citing the establishment of digital labs, ongoing 5G testing, and widespread internet and mobile phone usage.
Palak called for plans to train at least 50 thousand chip designers in the country and expressed confidence that with the support of talented entrepreneurs and the private sector, Bangladesh could become a knowledge-based smart nation by 2041.
DCCI President Ashraf Ahmed emphasized the need for Bangladesh to prioritize semiconductor industry development for import substitution industrialization and export diversification. He called for simplification of administrative procedures, robust intellectual property protection, and a holistic framework for sustainable growth of the semiconductor industry.
G S M Jafarullah, Managing Director of the Bangladesh High-Tech Park Authority, highlighted government initiatives to develop innovation hubs and high-tech parks, inviting private sector investment in the semiconductor industry. He mentioned plans for tax benefits to attract local and foreign investment in the ICT sector.
The seminar also featured presentations from Professor A. S. M. A. Haseeb of BUET, Mir Shahrukh Islam of Bondstein Technologies Ltd, Razib Hasan of Software Teton Private Ltd, and Liakat Ali of Walton Digi-Tech Industries, among others.
Comment: