Under this program, there are also plans to strengthen cybersecurity and build technology villages. Earlier this month, a high-level delegation led by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury visited Seoul, South Korea; there, in meetings with the country's top technology companies, discussions were held on Bangla-language AI, computing infrastructure and practical applications of technology.
Chingfeng Zhang, ADB Country Director for Bangladesh, said ADB and the government are discussing a potential $250 million program. The financing structure and implementation schedule have not yet been finalized; the government is expected to submit an integrated financing proposal in mid-December. Preparations for the cybersecurity project have advanced, with the project aiming for approval in 2027. Investment in AI and the technology village may come in several phases, but technical studies and project preparation must be completed before that.
Zhang said the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) has shown interest, so opportunities for joint financing are being explored. The Seoul meetings also identified potential partnerships with South Korea's LG AI Research and FuriosaAI—through which a Bangla-language large language model (LLM) could be developed, specialized chips used for low-cost AI operations, and Naver's experience in data centers and cloud infrastructure leveraged. The use of LG AI Research's experience with its regional language model ‘Exaone’ was also discussed.
The proposed own AI model aims to increase data processing and digital service capacity in both the public and private sectors. Zhang said AI built to Bangladesh's needs can improve the quality of healthcare, education, agriculture and public services. ADB officials described the Seoul visit as the first international outreach to attract investment under Bangladesh's ‘Integrated Growth Network Development’ (IGND) initiative; the initiative plans about $80 billion in investment over 20 years, of which ADB has committed up to $5 billion in five years.
