On January 1, 2025, the government of Bangladesh approved the formation of a National Semiconductor Taskforce, led by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA). This initiative aims to enhance the country's capabilities in testing, assembly, and chip design, capitalizing on Bangladesh's strategic location, competitive labor costs, and skilled workforce. Ashik Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of BIDA, highlighted the importance of uniting expertise from both the Bangladeshi diaspora and local industry to strengthen the global semiconductor value chain [8e9feacd].
The taskforce is set to identify growth opportunities, address policy and skill gaps, and recommend necessary infrastructure and incentives to attract investment in the semiconductor sector. Actionable results from the taskforce are expected by the end of January 2025, indicating a proactive approach to developing this critical industry [8e9feacd].
This development comes at a time when South Korea is grappling with legislative challenges that threaten its semiconductor dominance. On December 26, 2024, South Korea's National Assembly faced a setback as it excluded the critical Semiconductor Special Act from its agenda, primarily due to opposition from the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which raised concerns over labor regulations affecting semiconductor researchers [fb1d40cf].
The urgency of addressing these regulatory hurdles was emphasized during a visit by Minister Ahn Duk-geun to SK Hynix's plant, where he stressed the need for legislative support to bolster the semiconductor sector, vital for South Korea's economy and national security [fb1d40cf]. Meanwhile, South Korean executives from Samsung Electronics have been lobbying for the passage of the Semiconductor Special Act, highlighting the critical nature of the semiconductor industry for the country's economic stability [fb1d40cf].
As Bangladesh moves forward with its National Semiconductor Taskforce, the contrasting situations in South Korea and Bangladesh reflect the dynamic nature of the global semiconductor industry. While South Korea faces internal challenges, Bangladesh is positioning itself to capitalize on emerging opportunities, potentially reshaping the landscape of semiconductor manufacturing and innovation in the region [8e9feacd][b7ea0f70][736281a7].