Bangladesh, China to enhance collaboration in semiconductors

Photo: Courtesy

Bangladesh and China are moving forward with plans to strengthen cooperation in semiconductors, optical technology, and higher education, following a series of discussions and the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoU).

Hubei Semiconductor Industry Association and Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association signed this MoU in Dhaka today (24 August).

Under the agreement, Hubei Semiconductor Association will provide assistance in chip design and semiconductor manufacturing in Bangladesh. There will be technical assistance between the two countries.

Speaking at the event, Professor Wei Liu, chairman of the Academic Committee, School of Integrated Circuits, Wuhan University highlighted the advantages of collaboration.

"Wuhan is known as the 'Optical Valley of China,' home to hundreds of optical communication and semiconductor companies. The city hosts more than 60 universities and around 1.3 million students," he said.

Photo: Courtesy

Wei Liu, also vice president of the Hubei Semiconductor Industry Association, added that Bangladesh's greatest advantage lies in its large pool of human resources.

"In China, semiconductor-related positions are highly competitive. This creates opportunities for cooperation, not only in technology exchange but also in engineer training and academic collaboration."

Hubei province is one of China's most advanced regions in the semiconductor sector.

"Our association alone has more than 500 members. We are planning to bring some of these members to Bangladesh to explore opportunities in joint ventures and training," the Vice President of the association noted.

"As a professor at Wuhan University, I believe there are great opportunities for cooperation between universities in China and Bangladesh. We aim to work on joint research, student exchange, and academic collaboration," he said.

MA Jabbar, president of Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association, said the agreements, stressing that closer cooperation with China could pave the way for rapid technological and industrial growth in Bangladesh.

"This program marks an important milestone with the signing of MoU. This will open doors for more business, academic, and technological collaboration between Bangladesh and China," said MA Jabbar, also managing director of DBL group. 

Among others, Board members, Members of Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association Advisory panel and its members were also present. 

With both sides showing enthusiasm, the new partnership is expected to accelerate Bangladesh's entry into advanced semiconductor and optical technology sectors, while also expanding opportunities in higher education and research.

The Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA) has recently unveiled an ambitious roadmap to boost the country's semiconductor exports to $1 billion by 2030, with a strong focus on workforce training and policy support.

Currently, Bangladesh's annual semiconductor design services exports remain below $10 million, underscoring the scale of the challenge.

As part of this plan, BSIA has signed a cooperation agreement with Hubei Semiconductor Industry Association in China, opening a new window for academic, technological, and industry-level collaboration.

China, the world's largest semiconductor market, accounted for 16% of global chip production in 2022, ranking third worldwide with a market share of 7%—up from 5% in 2020.

The country's semiconductor industry generated $179.5 billion in revenue in 2023, with growth projected at a 7.31% CAGR through 2027.