Oman, Bangladesh Broaden Breakthroughs in AI, Drone Tech and Semiconductor

Bangladesh and Oman have held a high-level bilateral meeting to strengthen cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), drone technology, semiconductor design, and scientific research. The meeting took place on Thursday, July 30, at the conference room of Bangladesh's Ministry of Science and Technology at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka.

The Bangladeshi delegation was led by Md. Anwar Hossain, Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology. The Omani delegation was headed by Said Abdul Ghafoor Saif Udeen, Chief Executive Officer of Star Drones at Innovation Park Muscat and a representative of the Saudi Arabia–Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Focus on AI and Emerging Technologies

During the discussions, the Omani delegation highlighted the country's technological progress, noting its focus on developing an indigenous Large Language Model (LLM) and strengthening data security. The delegation also said Oman has established a startup investment fund to finance early-stage innovations.

The meeting emphasized the importance of technological self-reliance across the Muslim world through the development of indigenous technologies and the establishment of local data centers.

The Omani representatives also shared their experience of successfully using drones to spray pesticides across thousands of acres of farmland. They noted that similar technology could have significant applications in Bangladesh's agriculture, disaster management, and fire safety sectors.

Bangladesh's Science and Technology Secretary Md. Anwar Hossain highlighted the country's large pool of young talent in information and communication technology (ICT) and engineering. He said Bangladesh is making significant progress in semiconductor design and robotics and sought Oman's cooperation in semiconductor chip design, research, and technical training for Bangladeshi youth.

The meeting also explored opportunities for technology transfer in agriculture, food processing, and healthcare, alongside several proposals for joint scientific research.

Proposed Areas of Joint Research

• Salt-tolerant and diabetes-friendly rice: Oman expressed interest in collaborating on research into salt-tolerant rice varieties and specially developed rice suitable for people with diabetes.
• Food preservation: Both sides agreed to pursue technological research on extending the shelf life of fruits such as jackfruit and pineapple.
• Nutrition and healthcare: BCSIR Chairman Dr. Samina Ahmed said the organization's vitamin- and mineral-enriched nutritional food products for children could be suitable for use in Oman and African countries.
• Red palm weevil control: Bangladesh expressed its willingness to establish the necessary legal framework to facilitate joint research on controlling the destructive red palm weevil, a major pest affecting date palm trees in Oman.

Future Cooperation

According to sources at the meeting, the Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology invited the Omani delegation to participate in Bangladesh's National Innovation Fair, scheduled for September 2026.

Both sides also agreed in principle to appoint focal points to ensure regular communication and oversee the implementation of the decisions reached during the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary Muhammad Ashraf Ali Faruk, Dr. Syeda Naushin Parnini, Bassim Allah Bakhsh Ghulam Al-Zadjali, Chief Technology Officer of Star Drones, Dr. Moinul Islam, Chairman of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, and Ashraful Haque Chowdhury, President of the Saudi Arabia–Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

//DBTech/AAM/NAM/OR//