Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Korean electronics and technology titan Samsung will open a research and development (R&D) centre in Bangladesh in October this year, taking the advantage of cheap but knowledge professionals.
The Seoul-based industrial group with an annual turnover of more than US$170 billion has said the R&D centre will initially employ 100-plus Bangladeshi engineers who will make software for the regional market.
"It's a big opportunity for you … It will send a strong signal to IBM, HP and others that Bangladesh has a foot on the world's technology map," Country Head of Samsung Electronics Kanghyun Lee told the Financial Express (FE), a local newspaper. "Bangladeshi professionals are as capable as the Indians and that was the reason why we're setting up offices here," Mr Lee added.
In Bangladesh, Samsung is selling its branded refrigerator, television sets, mobile sets and computer monitor.
Last year the company opened its branch office in Dhaka and its officials said the company has a plan to step up its operations in Bangladesh in view of its growth potential.
Mr Lee said his company has a dozen R&D centers outside South Korea and Bangladesh's will be the 13th.
It has already set up two R&D centers in India's New Delhi and Bangalore where more than 4,000 Indian technology professionals are employed.
BBN/SI/AD-17Sept10-11:36 pm (BST)