Bangladesh and Oman have held a bilateral discussion to advance technology, innovation, and joint research. The meeting, led by Science and Technology Secretary Md. Anwar Hossain and Said Abdul Ghafoor Saif Udeen, CEO of Star Drones, Innovation Park Muscat, Seeb, Oman, focused on identifying potential areas of collaboration in artificial intelligence (AI), drone technology, agricultural technology, startup funding, food security, and innovation.
Focus on AI, Drones, and Food Security
During the discussion, the Omani representatives presented their initiatives in science, drone technology, and artificial intelligence. They highlighted the existence of a startup investment fund that provides financing for early-stage innovations. The delegation also noted that Oman is developing its own Large Language Model (LLM) and is placing significant emphasis on data security.
The meeting further discussed the importance of Muslim-majority countries developing and utilizing their own technology infrastructure and data centers to ensure secure data storage. Secretary Md. Anwar Hossain highlighted Bangladesh's large, young, and productive workforce, particularly graduates in ICT and engineering disciplines. He also outlined the government's initiatives to promote semiconductor design and robotics, emphasizing the importance of sharing expertise in semiconductor chip design and research, as well as training and developing Bangladesh's youth in these fields.
Agricultural and Food Research Opportunities
The Omani delegation shared that drone technology has been successfully used in Oman to spray pesticides across thousands of acres of agricultural land. They noted that Bangladesh has tremendous potential to utilize drone technology in agriculture, pesticide application, disaster management, and fire safety. The meeting also explored opportunities for joint research on developing and utilizing salt-tolerant rice varieties in Bangladesh.
In addition, the Omani delegation expressed interest in specialized rice varieties suitable for diabetic patients. Both sides proposed collaborative research on food processing technologies, particularly for extending the shelf life of fruits such as jackfruit and pineapple for export to international markets. Dr. Samina Ahmed, Chairman of the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), stated that BCSIR has developed vitamin- and mineral-enriched nutritious food products to combat child malnutrition, which could also be beneficial for use in Africa and Oman.
The Omani delegation also highlighted its research on controlling the Red Palm Weevil, a destructive pest affecting date palm trees, and proposed joint research into its potential medicinal properties. The Bangladesh delegation responded that developing the necessary legal framework and policies could be considered to facilitate such research.
