Bangladesh and South Korea have signed a $13 million agreement to establish a dedicated artificial intelligence training centre in Dhaka, with the project aimed at expanding Bangladesh’s AI talent pool, strengthening applied research and improving the global employability of local technology professionals.
The initiative will be funded through a grant from the South Korean government via the Korea International Cooperation Agency, with the project scheduled to run from 2026 to 2029.
The planned AI-Hub Center will be located at Software Technology Park-2 in Kawran Bazar, Dhaka, and implemented by the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority.
KOICA to provide full project funding
The agreement was formalised through a Record of Discussion involving KOICA, Bangladesh’s ICT Division under the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and the Economic Relations Division of the finance ministry.
South Korea will provide $13 million in grant funding for the project.
The initiative is therefore structured as a government-backed capacity-building programme rather than a private commercial investment.
AI-Hub Center to combine training and applied research
The planned centre will focus on advanced AI education and applied research.
It is also intended to create a platform linking universities, businesses and government agencies.
That structure is designed to help move AI development beyond classroom-based training by connecting skills development with practical research and industry requirements.
The project will also support the development of local instructors and AI professionals as Bangladesh seeks to expand its domestic pool of specialised technology talent.
Focus on global employability
A central objective of the programme is to improve the employment prospects of Bangladeshi technology professionals in both domestic and international markets.
South Korea is expected to be one of the target markets for skilled workers emerging from the programme.
For Bangladesh, this creates an opportunity to link AI skills development directly with export-oriented technology employment and international labour demand.
The country already has a growing software and outsourcing sector, but AI-related capabilities could allow local professionals to compete for higher-value roles in areas such as machine learning, data science, automation and applied AI development.
Academia-industry links form key part of project
The proposed hub is also intended to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry.
That is an important component of the project because AI skills programmes often struggle to remain aligned with rapidly changing commercial requirements.
By connecting universities, companies and government institutions, the initiative could help create a more practical training environment while giving businesses access to emerging research and skilled graduates.
Applied research activities could also support the development of AI solutions tailored to local market needs.
Project adds to Bangladesh-South Korea technology cooperation
The programme expands the technology relationship between Bangladesh and South Korea, with digital skills and AI becoming a more prominent part of bilateral cooperation.
The 2026-2029 implementation window gives the project several years to develop training capacity, research programmes and institutional partnerships.
The source does not specify annual trainee targets or employment placement goals, so the eventual scale of the programme will depend on how the centre is implemented.
