Staff Reporter:
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Prof Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir said that the govern-ment will support technology-based enterprises to create skilled employment and facilitate technology services in the country.
“To this end, the government will review tax policies, investment plans and the role of government institu-tions,” he said.
Dr Titumir made the remarks in his concluding speech at the “Bangladesh-Silicon Valley Technology Dia-logue” held at Cedar Hall of Stanford University in California on Sunday, said a press release yesterday.
The adviser said technological cooperation must improve the quality of citizen services and create new oppor-tunities for the people of Bangladesh.
He urged the participants to quickly identify implementable projects, responsible individuals or institutions and follow-up actions to translate the discussions into concrete outcomes.
The dialogue, titled “Technology, Talent and Partnership for Bangladesh’s Future”, was organised by the Con-sulate General of Bangladesh in Los Angeles.
Members of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s special delegation held discussions with technology experts, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and expatriate Bangladeshis from Silicon Valley on the development of Bangladesh’s technology sector, artificial intelligence (AI), the semiconductor industry, research, skills devel-opment, employment and investment prospects.
Consul General Kazi Muhammad Javed Iqbal delivered the welcome address and moderated the event. Bang-ladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam also spoke at the programme.
The Prime Minister’s special delegation included Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Prof Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Posts, Telecommunications, Information Technology, Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj.
Papers on the use of AI in Bangladesh were presented by Dr Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed, associate professor of com-puter science at the University of Toronto; Dr Sharifa Sultana, assistant professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Dr Mohammad Kamrul Islam, distinguished engineer at Uber; and Dr Mostafa Patwari, researcher at NVIDIA.
Dr Mahbub Rasheed of Global Foundries also spoke on the potential and overall development of the semi-conductor industry.
Professor Dr Saif Islam, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, Davis, moderated a panel discussion on talent, technology and capital.
Adviser Rehan Asif Asad, Dr Shatil Haque of Credo Semiconductor, Dr Yousuf Haque, co-founder and chief technology officer of Exor, Dr Omar Ishrak, former CEO of Medtronic and former chairman of Intel’s board of directors, Mohammad Enayetur Rahman, president and CEO of Ulkasemi, and Badrul Sarwar, co-founder and chief technology officer of CloudAI, took part in the panel.
The panellists exchanged views on research, skills development, industry partnerships and investment oppor-tunities.
Adviser Rehan Asif Asad said the government is committed to developing the technology sector by building strong links among research, education, startups and industries.
