Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said the government has initiated a comprehensive plan to harness the potentials of semiconductor industry, describing it as the country’s next major economic growth engine after the RMG sector.“The semiconductor industry could emerge as Bangladesh's next promising economic sector after the RMG industry. The government has already started implementing comprehensive plans, including creating a business-friendly environment, to transform this next major driver of economic prosperity into reality,” he said.The prime minister was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the National Semiconductor Symposium and BEAR (Bangladesh Electronics, AI and Robotics) Summit-2026 at the Novo Theatre in the capital this morning.Describing the conference as more than just an ordinary event, the premier said it was a gathering of those who would help build a technology-driven Bangladesh in the future.“Bangladeshi expatriates have been demonstrating their excellence in different countries around the world. Many of them have taken the initiative to participate in this important summit,” the premier said, adding that the present government wants to build a self-reliant, prosperous and technology-driven Bangladesh.Calling semiconductors the foundation of modern civilisation in the era of the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions, Tarique Rahman said, “From artificial intelligence, robotics, data centres, renewable energy and medical equipment to mobile phones and satellites in space, chips or semiconductors are indispensable in every field.”Highlighting the enormous potential of the global semiconductor market, the prime minister said, “The global semiconductor market is expected to reach nearly one trillion US dollars by 2026. Bangladesh has immense opportunities in this vast market, and I believe the country will be able to achieve its targeted export earnings from this sector by 2030.”