"Bangladesh-Malaysia IT connect portal" initiative to boost tech ties, investment

The Board of Directors of the Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI) led by its President Shabbir A Khan had a courtesy call on to Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, the state minister of the ministry of post, telecommunication, and information technology, to discuss potential technological collaboration and investment opportunities between Bangladesh and Malaysia.

President Shabbir A Khan briefed the state minister about their recent visit to Malaysia. During the visit, the BMCCI delegation had the privilege of engaging in dialogues on various bilateral issues with prominent figures including the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Officials of Malaysia Digital Economic Corporation (MDEC).The discussions centered around the need for a mutually beneficial partnership in the areas of technology transfer and skill development.

BMCCI President also informed the state minister about the participation of BMCCI delegation in the prestigious SEMICON SOUTHEAST ASIA 2024 exhibition comprising leading industrial personalities and technical experts, who attended the event and engaged with the Malaysian semiconductor industry. The BMCCI delegation also visited the Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems (MIMOS), the national R&D center of Malaysia, to gain insights into their research and development capabilities and skill development programmes. The delegation was highly impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories at MIMOS and recognised the potential for joint training programmes, knowledge-sharing platforms, and collaborative projects between Malaysia and Bangladesh to enhance the semiconductor ecosystem.

Mr Shabbir A Khan stated that the development of a robust semiconductor ecosystem is a crucial element in Bangladesh's quest to achieve the "Smart Bangladesh" vision by the Prime Minister. He added that Bangladesh has strength in the upstream design and engineering aspects of the semiconductor industry, while Malaysia's capabilities lie in the downstream manufacturing and packaging domains.

The state minister commended the efforts of the BMCCI in bridging the technological potential between Bangladesh and Malaysia. He expressed his support for shared investment growth, where both countries can simultaneously benefit, and emphasised the need to draw the attention of Malaysian investors to consider Bangladesh as an attractive investment destination.

The state minister expressed his eagerness to leverage these capabilities between the two countries. The state minister assured the BMCCI that his ministry would extend its full support to further develop the semiconductor ecosystem in Bangladesh. He expressed his willingness to explore joint training programmes, research collaborations, and other knowledge-sharing initiatives between Bangladeshi and Malaysian institutions to build a robust talent pool of engineers and drive technological advancements in this sector.

The state minister shared his plan to establish a “Bangladesh IT connect portal-Malaysia” to facilitate direct communication between businesses and potential investors. He emphasised the importance of this platform in promoting investment opportunities and strengthening the technological collaboration between the two countries. The state minister stated that the portal will serve as a one-stop-shop for investors, providing comprehensive information on investment policies, tax incentives, and available infrastructure in Bangladesh. It will also enable seamless networking and matchmaking between Bangladeshi and Malaysian companies. The state minister also stated that BMCCI will be the Bangladesh Contact Point for this "Bangladesh IT connect portal-Malaysia" initiative, underscoring the chamber's pivotal role in fostering technological collaboration and investment between the two countries.

The BMCCI expressed its full support in the development and promotion of this IT connection portal. The chamber pledged to leverage its extensive network of members and stakeholders to ensure the portal's success and drive active engagement between the business communities of Bangladesh and Malaysia. The BMCCI president assured the state minister that the chamber will work closely with the relevant government agencies to provide all necessary assistance in establishing and maintaining the portal as a robust platform for accelerating technological cooperation and investment flows between the two countries.