Japan eyes Bangladesh IT talent amid tech boom
DHAKA, BANGLADESH — Japan is keen to recruit skilled IT professionals from Bangladesh as the latter’s ICT exports to Japan surged to US$120 million.
During a bilateral meeting, the Japanese Minister of Commerce Nishimura Yasutoshi expressed to Bangladesh’s State Minister for ICT, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, that this talent investment can reach billions of dollars.
Yasutoshi has also invited a trade delegation from Bangladesh to explore potential investment in startups, hardware, and skill development programs.
Concurrently, Bangladesh proposed to become a research and development (R&D) hub for Japanese companies to fill the latter’s skill gap with fresh graduates trained in AI, robotics, microchip design, and cybersecurity.
The two nations also discussed the establishment of a Bangladesh-Japan IT Institute and Incubation Center at Hi-Tech Park. A joint partnership visit to Japan is planned for final discussions.
Bangladesh’s Palak added that he envisages a greater focus on Japan following the establishment of R&D Centers by Japanese companies like Sony, Hitachi, Toshiba, Toyota, Nissan, and Kawasaki in Bangladesh.
With Japan ranking as the sixth largest exporting partner for Bangladesh in the software sector, services will also be offered to the Japanese service industries from Bangladesh.
The State Minister also affirmed that this meeting is a crucial step towards a ‘Smart Bangladesh’ in 2041.
