Samsung opens R&D centre in Dhaka

Samsung Electronics Company Ltd, the world’s largest technology company by sales, yesterday launched its research and development centre in Dhaka, the first of its kind by any multinational company in Bangladesh.
Yeafesh Osman, state minister for science and information and communication technology, inaugurated the Samsung Bangladesh R&D Centre Ltd at a ceremony at Uday Tower in Gulshan.
The centre, the Seoul-based company’s 18th R&D centre in the world and second in South Asia, will reinforce the journey of the government toward implementing a ‘Digital Bangladesh’, he added.
“Bangladesh and its IT industry have immense potential. Unfortunately, limited opportunities have opened for skilled graduates of Bangladesh, who are quite considerable in number, to work for big IT companies.”
The South Korean technology powerhouse aims to utilise the strengths of the skilled workforce of Bangladesh by actively responding to the rising calls of those aspiring to put to test their software-related capabilities.
The company has already recruited over 100 Bangladeshi engineers for the centre to develop mobile devices for Asia, Africa and Australia. The centre now plans to hire 1,000 engineers by 2013, said NamKyu Lee, managing director of SBRC Ltd, later at another event at the Westin Dhaka.
“Local talents are leaving Bangladesh to get world-class jobs, and consequently the country is losing its skilled human resources. The R&D centre will open a world of opportunities for them and the industry,” he said.
“In Bangladesh, our target is to become the best R&D centre in the world,” said Lee, adding that the centre would also focus on advanced technology and conduct other IT researches.
Prof Syed Modasser Ali, adviser to the prime minister on health affairs, said the R&D centre is very important for any country, as it helps the society go forward.
Kiho Kim, global head of digital media and communications for the R&D Centre of Samsung, said: “The research centre is going to create a synergy effect as the company aims to train the engineers and market its products in the region.”
He said the Digital Bangladesh Vision of the government has brought in a great opportunity for the people and the country’s IT industry. “This centre will help attract other global companies to set their R&D centres in Bangladesh.”
TaiYoung Cho, Korean ambassador to Bangladesh, said the project would have great implications on the ICT sector and bilateral relations between the two countries. “The Bangladeshi government should come up with full-fledged support to make it a win-win venture.”
He said Samsung has taken a right decision by choosing Bangladesh as the destination for its second R&D centre in South Asia, as the country is full of talents and innovative too.
Bangladesh Computer Samity President Mostafa Jabbar and Bangladesh Computer Council Executive Director Md Mahfuzur Rahman also spoke.