Top-up training in frontier technology can produce 10,000 experts in a decade: Palak
State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, said, "Through proper top-up training in frontier technologies like microchip designing, semiconductors, basic AI, it is possible to create ten thousand experts in the next decade." He expressed his optimism and said that if the potential of this industry is grasped in the rapidly growing world economy, they will act as resources.
The Minister of State expressed his optimism while speaking virtually at the opening ceremony of "Developing the Semiconductor Industry in Bangladesh" organized by the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI) at MCCI's Gulshan office on Thursday.
Secretary of ICT Division Md. Shamsul Arefin; Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of North South University Dr. M. Roknuzzaman; California Exo Imaging Inc. Dr. Yusuf Haque (virtual) and MCCI Senior Vice President Habibullah N Karim spoke among others. The event was presided over by MCCI President Kamran T. Rahman.
While speaking as the chief guest, the State Minister Palak said, ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, 10 years ago, said to focus seriously on four future-oriented technologies like microchip designing and manufacturing, artificial intelligence, robotics and cyber security. Today 10 years later, we can see how the semiconductor industry is influencing the global economy and how robotics is replacing humans in many fields, even cyber security has become a very important field. He said that the ICT department is working for the development of skilled human resources in these four important areas. We provide opportunities for research and innovation to our teachers, students, researchers, industry leaders and entrepreneurs. So that they can create future innovative products and solutions from Bangladesh.
He said, the semiconductor or microchip manufacturing sector has emerged as the fastest growing industry in the electronics and technology sector around the world. The global semiconductor industry is a $600 billion market. If the country's engineers are trained, they can design and assemble the chips. As a result, billions of dollars of income will be created for the country.
He also said that in 40 universities of the country, including Dhaka University and BUET, the educated youth of the country are being trained under the Hire and Training Program to make them skilled in microchips designing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, cloud computing technology. Under the Enhancing Digital Government and Economy-EDGE project, we are providing necessary training in frontier (advanced) technology in partnership with various universities.
He also said that a state-of-the-art Nano-lab will be set up on the campus of BUET by spending 10 million dollars.
