Photo : Collected
A recent study conducted by the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has identified critical challenges facing Bangladesh's semiconductor industry.
These include inadequate understanding of industry dynamics, suboptimal decision-making in adapting to changing scenarios, and excessive reliance on incentives and subsidies.
The study also underscores the need for enhanced education and training in electrical engineering, computer science, and physics to bolster the supply of chip designers.
Furthermore, the report recommends offering research grants and fellowships at the master's and PhD levels to foster microchip design-related innovations.
It advocates incentivising local producers in sectors like apparel, footwear, and agriculture to adopt microchip-led innovations in their products and processes.
This initiative aims to strengthen collaboration between academia and chip design entities.
Bangladesh aims to increase semiconductor exports to $10 billion by 2041, significantly boosting its GDP contribution from the current 0.3% to 4.5%.
With global semiconductor sales surpassing $526.8 billion in 2023, and projected to reach $1 trillion by 2030, the semiconductor sector presents a substantial growth opportunity for Bangladesh.
Experts believe the country's talent pool can be leveraged to create lucrative career opportunities and diversify foreign earnings.
The study's unveiling event in Dhaka saw the participation of key figures including Zunaid Ahmed Palak, State Minister for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and Md Shamsul Arefin, Secretary to the Information and Communication Technology Division.
Farooq Ahmed, Secretary-General and CEO of MCCI, moderated the event, where insights were shared by Kamran T Rahman, MCCI President, and Simeen Rahman, MCCI Vice-President.
Yusuf Haque, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of eXo Imaging Inc., delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the industry's potential. M Rokonuzzaman, a professor at North South University, provided further insights during the event.
Habibullah N Karim, Senior Vice-President of MCCI, highlighted the report's practical guidance on investment mobilization, policy frameworks, and resource allocation for Bangladesh's semiconductor industry, positioning it as more than an academic guide.
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