Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen speaks during the inauguration ceremony of the Huawei's "Seeds for the Future 2023 Bangladesh" in Dhaka, Bangladesh, June 21, 2023. (Xinhua)

Huawei South Asia launched its "Seeds for the Future 2023 Bangladesh" on Wednesday for the 10th year to inspire the local information and communication technology (ICT) talents and help develop a local ICT ecosystem.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Bangladeshi state minister for Information and Communication Technology Division, said in a keynote speech that "to achieve the targets of Smart Bangladesh, we have taken technology as our main driving force, where our current students will play the leading role."

The "Seeds for the Future" program will allow them to learn and access frontier technologies, the minister said, adding that "I am thankful to Huawei for supporting us in several initiatives like establishing ICT academies."

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said that China will actively participate in the "Smart Bangladesh" construction, helping Bangladesh achieve its grand goal of becoming a developed country by 2041.

"China will also promote the construction of major ICT projects in Bangladesh, and continue to strengthen personnel exchanges between the two countries, so as to enhance China-Bangladesh strategic partnership of cooperation to a new height," said the ambassador.

Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, Vice Chancellor of the Islamic University of Technology, said that "young people are the future of our country, and the progress of our country depends on how we make them technically stronger to face the challenges of the fourth Industrial Revolution. Huawei has designed 'Seeds for the Future' so well that it will bring something good for these young learners."

This year, the top six winners of the program will get the chance to attend training at Huawei headquarters and cross-cultural activities in China.

Since its first launch in Bangladesh in 2014, more than 15,000 students globally have benefitted from the program so far. "Seeds for the Future" program has been facilitating the youth of this country by creating exposure to cutting-edge technologies and insights from industry experts.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Bangladeshi state minister for Information and Communication Technology Division, speaks during the inauguration ceremony of the Huawei's "Seeds for the Future 2023 Bangladesh" in Dhaka, Bangladesh, June 21, 2023. (Xinhua)