Significant development!
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2460767/si ... p-industry
SIFC to push ahead with plan to develop chip industry
ISLAMABAD: The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has geared up to press ahead with the plan of developing a multibillion-dollar chip design and semiconductor industry in Pakistan.
It was suggested that Pakistan would have to start from testing and research and then it should develop the semiconductor industry.
Easy peasy.
Estimates suggest that the setting up of a foundry for semiconductor manufacturing requires an investment of around $6-7 billion. Apart from capital, Pakistan has scarcity of trained human resources as well.
Hafiz Munir just has to bring $107 billion from Gulf countries instead of $100 billion.
“For developing the semiconductor industry, which is associated with smartphone and many other industries, we will have to take small steps by winning the confidence of companies like Intel, AMD, Nvidia, Qualcomm, MediaTek and Unisoc, which can invest in testing departments,” remarked Muhammad Naqi, CEO of Premier Code, while talking to The Express Tribune.
This CEO has figured it all out.
He pointed out that Pakistan had a dearth of skilled resources, for which “we will have to update our curriculum to ensure that we have the required people”.
Just another meeting with about 40 people attending is required where SIFC resolves to update the curriculum.
Along with this, Pakistan needs to create a softer image of the country where visitors and investors can come without any security fears. “Small steps will help us to go a long way. We cannot jump from 0 to 100 but we will have to take a step-by-step approach to progress in the field,” Naqi said.
SIFC should create a new committee to explore AI tools to generate soft images of Pakistan.
A major challenge is that Pakistan does not have a good reputation when it comes to the ease of setting up and operating a business. This can be overcome by highlighting the recent changes in the ease of doing business in the country.
Foreign ambassadors can be summoned and a power point presentation can be given. Looks like a low hanging fruit.
It noted that Pakistani universities were not producing trained graduates who could work on designing chips. This can be addressed by setting up advanced training centres that will bridge the gap between the academia and the industry.
Also, the government does not offer any incentive plan to encourage chip designing companies to install such facilities. It recommended the resolution of the issue by offering world-class incentives that could help bring US and Chinese companies to Pakistan.
That's it?
Pakistan has a complex customs regime that is difficult for companies to navigate and it is also quite expensive when compared with international standards. This can be simply addressed by implementing a one-stop shop solution with a “zero-in, zero-out policy”, experts say.
Very innovative. I had heard of garbage in, garbage out policy but this.
In terms of opportunities, Pakistan has a chance to become the next best destination for semiconductor design and manufacturing because of a large pool of low-cost human resources.
Overall, looks like a good plan to me.
