Bangladesh has moved to strengthen its high-tech ambitions after the Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA) signed an agreement with the Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (SICIP) to train thousands of semiconductor professionals, officials said.
Under the initiative, BSIA will train 3,500 graduates from disciplines including electrical and electronic engineering, computer science and applied physics in a bid to build a globally competitive semiconductor talent pool. The programme, which runs from February 2026 through December 2028, carries a budget of Tk 35.14 crore.
The training will be delivered through six specialised courses covering areas such as integrated circuit design, advanced physical design, design for test, verification, smart systems engineering, and semiconductor packaging and testing. Each course will span 240 hours over three months.
Officials involved in the project have set a target of placing at least 65% of certified trainees in relevant jobs, reflecting the government’s push to create a pipeline of skilled manpower for the country’s nascent semiconductor ecosystem.
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SICIP is being implemented under Bangladesh’s Finance Division with support from the government and the Asian Development Bank, highlighting growing international backing for the country’s skills development efforts in advanced technology sectors.
Industry leaders say the initiative is part of a broader strategy to position Bangladesh as an emerging destination for semiconductor design and engineering services, as the country seeks to diversify beyond its dominant ready-made garment exports.
BSIA has in recent years stepped up global outreach and partnership efforts to attract investment and technology collaboration in the chip sector. Analysts say the success of the new training programme will depend on industry linkage, job creation and the ability to retain skilled engineers in the local market.
With global demand for semiconductor talent continuing to outpace supply, Bangladesh is betting that targeted skills development could help it capture a small but growing share of the multi-trillion-dollar electronics value chain.
