Bangladesh invited to be US-led Pax Silica initiative partner, decides to join WAICO

The United States has indicated that Bangladesh may become a participant in its Pax Silica initiative in the future, emphasizing the country's considerable potential in the information technology (IT) sector.

During a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday, US Special Presidential Envoy for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor, noted that Bangladesh possesses significant capabilities in this area and "could, in the future, become a partner" in the Pax Silica initiative, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Prime Minister underscored Bangladesh's keen interest in attracting investments within the IT sector.

Pax Silica is a strategic initiative led by the United States aimed at establishing a secure, prosperous, and innovation-driven silicon supply chain, encompassing critical minerals, energy inputs, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, AI infrastructure, and logistics.

Grounded in robust cooperation with trusted allies, Pax Silica seeks to diminish coercive dependencies, safeguard the materials and capabilities essential for artificial intelligence, and ensure that aligned nations can develop and implement transformative technologies on a large scale.

The inaugural Pax Silica Summit brought together representatives from Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia.

These nations collectively host the most significant companies and investors driving the global AI supply chain. In light of a new economic security framework across the United States and its partner nations, a clear consensus has emerged: secure supply chains, reliable technology, and resilient infrastructure are vital to national power and economic advancement.

In the meantime, Bangladesh has opted to join the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) initially as an observer, as stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.

WAICO, headquartered in Shanghai, is an inter-governmental organization established on July 16, 2026.

The stated objectives encompass, among other aspects, enhancing international collaboration on innovation, fostering inclusive development by bridging the global digital divide, advocating for an open, equitable, and non-discriminatory framework for global AI advancement, and progressing AI regulations designed to guarantee that this emerging and evolving technology is advantageous and secure for humanity. On July 16, an agreement was signed in Shanghai by twenty-nine nations to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO). Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, represented the Chinese government in signing the agreement. Delegates from the 29 nations, including Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan, Russia, and Indonesia, endorsed the agreement, thereby designating their countries as founding members of WAICO. Among those present at the signing ceremony was United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, along with representatives from various countries and international organizations, as reported by Xinhua. The organization is committed to upholding the principles of the UN Charter, engaging in extensive consultation and collaborative efforts for mutual benefit, and adhering to a people-centered approach, as outlined in the agreement. Its goal is to foster international collaboration and global governance regarding AI, ensuring that AI is advantageous, secure, and equitable, thus promoting its healthy and orderly development for the benefit of all humanity.