The country should nurture its semiconductor industry to prevent the outflow of educated and skilled professionals, according to stakeholders, as they outlined a roadmap requiring investment, university partnerships, joint ventures and venture capital to help Bangladesh tap a market valued at almost $600 billion.
They made these points at a report launching ceremony on semiconductors -- the world's fourth-most-traded commodity.
The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) organised the programme in Dhaka on Thursday.
State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak was the chief guest.
Information and Communication Technology Division Secretary Md Shamsul Arefin was the special guest.
MCCI President Kamran T Rahman welcomed attendees and Senior Vice President of the elite trade body Habibullah N Karim provided a context of the industry.
A report titled 'Developing the Semiconductor Industry in Bangladesh' was launched at the programme.
State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak said the government has a goal of running 12 university projects, creating 200 mentors and developing the skills of 2,000 students to tap the potential of the semiconductor industry.
To achieve this goal, ICT Secretary Shamsul Arefin said a comprehensive strategy with a timeline is needed. "State-of-the-art infrastructure, testing labs and a manufacturing hub are also required for this industry," he added.
MCCI President Kamran T Chowdhury urged the government to offer incentives, protect intellectual property rights and foster partnerships to become a significant player in the global semiconductor industry.
Dr Yusuf Haque of eXo Imaging Inc, California, USA, joined the programme virtually.
To tap the industry's potential, he suggested designating specific GDP allocation and institutionalising research and development.
Dr Haque also called for developing the workforce at SCALE -- a preeminent US programme for semiconductor workforce development. He also advocated for incentivising venture capital and prioritising joint ventures with proactive government support.
Dr M Rokonuzzaman, professor of electrical and computer engineering at North South University, recommended the government provide grants for research and innovation in local microchips, integrate industries and develop small-scale university foundries.
MCCI Senior Vice President Habibullah N Karim said investment and resource mobilisation should be focused on nurturing a thriving semiconductor industry in Bangladesh.
"We have already had success. Bangladeshi Ulkasemi and Neural Semiconductor have employed several hundred people who are designing chips for global giants," he said.
However, he cautioned that the success of one or two companies does not guarantee the country's overall success in this sector. "We can see a reverse brain drain in Bangladesh if we can support the semiconductor industry."
Former president of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) Almas Chowdhury said Bangladesh needs its own intellectual property (IP) and tax rebates for research and development in this sector.
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