DHAKA, Oct 28, 2018 (BSS)- Describing Bangladesh’s socioeconomic progress
as unprecedented, speakers at a seminar here today said the country needs to
concentrate on attracting more local and foreign investments to accelerate
the pace of development.
At the same time, the government needs to focus more on infrastructure
development, energy security and simplification of tax system and sorting out
an investment friendly policy for proper implementation of the government’s
development plans, said the speakers while taking part in a working session
‘Gateway to Growth and Investment’ at Bangabandhu International Conference
Centre (BICC).
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) organised the event marking
the ’60 years of DCCI’.
International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh (ICCB) President Mahbubur
Rahman chaired the session while Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister’s
Office (PMO) Md Nojibur Rahman, Member of General Economic Division of the
Planning Commission Dr Shamsul Alam, Managing Director of Apex Footwear
Limited Syed Nasim Manjur, Senior Economist of International Finance
Corporation Dr M Masrur Reaz and Chairman and Managing Director Incepta
Pharma Abdul Muktadir, among others, took part in the discussion.
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Standard Chartered,
Malaysia Abrar A Anwar presented the keynote speech.
Nojibur Rahman said the government is extending all-out support and
cooperation to the private sector considering it as the growth engine of the
economy. He laid emphasis on development human resources to expedite inflow
of investments.
“There is a visionary leader in the country now . . . the government is
extending all cooperation to business community under a business-friendly
policy,” said Nojibur Rahman.
Shamsul Alam said Bangladesh has a high potential to be a gateway of
regional investment because of its geographical location. “For this reason,
steps will have to be taken to develop rail-road connectivity with south and
south-east Asia,” he said, adding that the connectivity will be improved when
the mega projects of the government will be implemented.
Economists Masrur Reaz lauded the socioeconomic development Bangladesh
achieved in the last one decade and said achievements such as six plus growth
and women empowerment are highly appreciable.