Bangladesh Joins Global Chip Race with South Korea Roadshow

The Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul, in partnership with the Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA), recently concluded a high-impact two-day roadshow in South Korea aimed at integrating Bangladesh into the global semiconductor value chain. 

The initiative focused on strategic international collaboration, talent development, and advanced packaging initiatives to elevate the nation’s high-tech standing.

The roadshow commenced on May 12 with a series of intensive one-to-one meetings between a 12-member Bangladeshi delegation, led by BSIA President MA Jabbar and various Korean semiconductor design houses as well as the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association (KSIA). 

A central highlight of the event was a banquet reception held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Pangyo in Seoul, where Bangladesh's Ambassador to South Korea, Toufiq Islam Shatil, delivered welcome remarks. 

Ambassador Shatil highlighted the "ample scope of joint collaboration between the semiconductor industries of both countries" and discussed the Asian Development Bank-proposed USD 79 billion, 20-year economic corridor stretching from Teknaf to Tetulia. 

He envisioned this corridor as a future hub for high-tech industrialization, "creating a specialised ecosystem where semiconductor manufacturing, advanced packaging, and electronics can thrive outside the traditional urban centers."

BSIA President MA Jabbar further emphasized the strategic importance of the visit, noting the "need to enter the semiconductor ecosystem through focusing strategic pathways like design verification, embedded system and advanced packaging." 

Technical sessions during the roadshow featured insights on the “Silicon River” initiatives from Purdue University’s Prof. Muhammad Mustafa Hussain, alongside capability overviews from seven prominent BSIA member companies: Dynamic Solution Innovators, Test Bangladesh Limited, Ulkasemi Private Limited, Neural Semiconductor Ltd, PrimeSilicon Technology Inc, Siliconova Limited, and MARS Solutions Limited.

On the concluding day, May 13, the delegation held high-level meetings with officials from leading semiconductor and research organizations, including the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), SK Hynix, Hana Micron, Koolmicro, Y-Tech, and Growith Associates. 

A significant milestone was achieved during these sessions with the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) between the KAIST Global Commercialization Center (GCC), the Center of Research Excellence on Semiconductor Technology (CREST) and the BSIA. 

This agreement is designed to foster joint research, talent development, and capacity building in the semiconductor sector. 

According to a PID handout issued on Friday, it is expected that Bangladesh’s emerging industry will benefit significantly from technological and economic cooperation with Korea’s global leaders, as the Embassy remains committed to transforming the nation into a global high-tech destination.