Govt approves national semiconductor taskforce headed by BIDA

The government today (1 January) officially approved the formation of a national task force focused on the semiconductor sector, which will be led by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida).

The task force comprises 13 members, including Ashik Chowdhury, executive chairman of Bida and the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Beza), who will serve as the convener, as outlined in a letter from the Chief Adviser's office.

"Bangladesh's strategic location near the Asia-Pacific supply chain, competitive labour costs, and young, skilled workforce make it an ideal destination for global semiconductor leaders," stated Ashik Chowdhury.

"By bringing together expertise from the Bangladeshi diaspora, industry, academia, and policy, we aim to strengthen our position in the global value chain and foster a future-ready, innovation-driven economy," he added.

The task force's mandate includes identifying immediate growth opportunities, addressing policy and skills gaps, and recommending infrastructure and incentive frameworks to attract global investment. 

The team is expected to deliver actionable results by the end of January.