DHAKA, Dec 4, 2018 (BSS) – Experts at a meeting today said investors can
start their business easily since Bangladesh Investment Development Authority
(BIDA) is set to introduce the full-fledged ‘One-Stop Service Centre’ in
January.
They observed that the one stop service would improve the Bangladesh’s
rank in the World Bank’s Global Doing Business Report in 2019.
The National Steering Committee Meeting for the Ease of Doing Business
was held at the Hotel Inter-Continental in the capital.
Chaired by Finance Minister AMA Muhith, the meeting was addressed, among
others, by Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan
Kamal, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, State Minister for Power, Energy and
Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs) of the
Prime Minister’s Office Md Abul Kalam Azad and BIDA Executive Chairman Kazi M
Aminul Islam.
Speaking at the meeting, Muhith said the process of starting a business
in Bangladesh is now easier than before as the government has taken various
measures for accelerating the country’s economy.
“Now, you can easily get permissions, including electricity and
telephone, for starting a business here. Security for running business is
also better than before,” he said.
Without the ease of doing business, Tofail said, Bangladesh has achieved
a remarkable progress in all socioeconomic indicators, including life
expectancy, infant mortality rate, export and GDP growth, under the
leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Bangladesh will have to make the process of investment easy for achieving
all development goals, including the Vision-2021, the Vision-2041 and the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he added.
He urged the authorities concerned to include a representative from
business community in the National Steering Committee for making the
committee more effective.
Shahjahan Khan said entrepreneurs will come forward to invest if the
process of starting business gets easy.
Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the government has taken different
initiatives for strengthening the law enforcement agencies to ensure
foolproof security. “Sustainable security is a must for achieving sustainable
development.”
Nasrul Hamid said the government should introduce digital services in all
sectors for improving the rank of doing business to attract more Foreign
Direct Investment (FDI).
“If we want to make the process of investment fast, we will have to adopt
technology in all sectors,” he added.
Abul Kalam Azad said starting a business in Bangladesh will now become
easier as the government will introduce One-Stop Service Centre in January.
The One Stop Service Act has been enacted while the rule of One-Stop
Service has been prepared and the software has also been developed in this
regard, he added.
Aminul Islam said the flow of the FDI to Bangladesh will reach a new
height after launching of the service centre as the new web-based system
allows a company to start its activities within a short time.
Terming the “One-Stop Service’ a web-based and virtual one, he said
previously investors had to apply in person and go door-to-door to all
service providers to get permissions for utility connections and other
facilities.
“Once the full-fledged one-stop service centre is launched, investors can
apply through online. They will also be able to know the progress of their
applications through online,” he said.