South Korea has urged Bangladesh to strengthen local manufacturing capacity, curb illegal imports and improve industrial policies as the country seeks to become a regional production hub.
Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Jijoon Kim visited the Samsung manufacturing facility of Fair Electronics in Narsingdi on Wednesday. He described the plant as a model of Bangladesh-Korea cooperation in technology transfer and domestic manufacturing.
“Bangladesh has tremendous manufacturing potential. With its hardworking workforce, supportive policies and Korean technology, the country can emerge as a regional manufacturing hub,” Jijoon Kim said.
Fair Group Chairman Ruhul Alam Al Mahbub said stronger action against grey-market and unofficial mobile phone imports would encourage local production, attract investment and create employment.
Samsung Bangladesh Managing Director Jungmin Jung said Samsung would continue expanding its partnership with Fair Electronics while maintaining global quality standards.
Fair Group Chief Marketing Officer Mohammed Mesbah Uddin said the company’s shift from distribution to manufacturing reflected the growth potential of Bangladesh’s electronics industry.
Fair Group became Samsung’s official distribution partner in 2014 before moving into local production, marking one of the first major global smartphone manufacturing initiatives in Bangladesh.
The visit was attended by Fair Group Chairman Ruhul Alam Al Mahbub, Fair Group Director Mutassim Daiaan and senior officials from Fair Group and Samsung Bangladesh. Samsung Bangladesh Director for MX Business Daniel Rhee, Samsung Bangladesh Director for Consumer Electronics Business Shahriar Bin Lutfor, Fair Group Director Selim Reza, Fair Group Head of Marketing J M Taslim Kabir, Fair Electronics Head of Business Moshiur Rahman, Embassy of the Republic of Korea Third Secretary Heon Cho and Embassy of the Republic of Korea Senior Specialist for Political and Economic Affairs Jiwon Park were also present.
