e_Paper, Wednesday, April 21, 2017

Bangladesh invites
Belarus investment
• Syed Zainul Abedin
State Minister for Foreign Affairs
Shahriar Alam invited Belarusian
investment in Bangladesh, where
they could use Bangladesh as a regional
hub covering China, India
and South-East Asian countries.
He emphasised frequent contacts
and interactions between
chambers of both countries
through regular exchange of trade
delegations.
Shahriar held bilateral talks with
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
of Belarus Valentin Rybakob in
Minsk on Wednesday.
Recalling the 25th anniversary
of establishment of diplomatic relations
between the two countries,
the Belarusian deputy foreign minister
welcomed the minister’s visit
as a timely initiative to take forward
bilateral relations to higher level.
Shahriar Alam underscored the
closer engagements in the context of
exchange of back-to-back prime ministerial
visits in 2012 and 2013 (from
Belarus and Bangladesh, respectively),
that in effect, had set the key directions
of our bilateral relations.
Both the ministers agreed that
deeper economic cooperation
should get main focus, as there is
ample scope for further expansion
of bilateral trade and investments.
In that context, State Minister
Alam sought support of Belarus for
the “duty free-quota free” access of
Bangladeshi products to the Eurasian
Economic Union, where Belarus
is a key member (other members
are Russian Federation, Kyrgyzstan,
Kazakhstan and Armenia).
State minister further noted
with satisfaction the joint venture
of Amkodor-Polash Service Center,
which is going to be inaugurated
next week by the Belarusian Minister
of Industries at Amkodor-Polash
Industrial Zone, Narshingdi of
Bangladesh.
He hoped that such joint venture
would ensure transfer of technology
and commence manufacturing
of small and light engineering
equipments as it has potential to
have much wider impact on the
growing bilateral economic cooperation
between our two countries.
The Belarusian deputy minister
mentioned that Belarus foreign
Business 11
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2017
policy is redesigned with more focus
on the emerging economies of
Asia and in that context identifies
Bangladesh as promising priority
country with sustained high economic
growth.
Earlier the State Minister visited
the Council of the Republic National
Assembly (i.e., Parliament)
and met with the Chairman of the
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs
and National Security Professor
Dr Sergey Rakhmaanov.
Dr Rakhmanov led a Parliamentary
team to the 136th Session of
IPU Assembly that was held in Dhaka
early April. State Minister Alam
briefed Dr Rakhmanov about the
growing role of Bangladesh in balancing
the regional stability under
the visionary leadership of Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina.
On 18 April, Shahriar Alam led
a 7-member Bangladesh business
delegation at a Business Conference
held at the Belarusian National
Center for Marketing and Price
Study and exchanged views with a
representative business delegation
of Belarus, led by the Center Director
Ambassador Valery Sadokho. •
Economic goals rely
on investment in
infrastructure
• Asif Showkat Kallol
Development experts and economists
said Bangladesh’s economic
goals cannot be achieved unless
substantial investment is made in
the country’s infrastructure.
Also, in order to achieve a steady
GDP growth rate required to reach
the economic targets, the government
needs to ensure considerable
investment in other sectors.
While addressing a high-level
meeting titled “Road to 2030- strategic
priorities” the State Minister
for Finance and Planning MA Mannan
said the government is hopeful
in achieving the economic targets
despite delays in implementation of
the different development projects.
The meeting was organised by
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce Industry
(DCCI) and Economic Reporters’
Forum in Dhaka on yesterday.
CPD research fellow Mustafisur
Rahman said: “There is a window
of opportunity in the open market
economy and we have to catch
those opportunities with substantial
investment in infrastructure
DT
and more emphasis on developing
the country’s private sector.”
The CPD fellow also pointed out
that the delays in implementation
of projects incur huge cost to the
county by many folds, besides discouraging
investors. Former DCCI
president Asif Iqbal too emphasised
on the significance of prioritising
infrastructure investment projects
to ensure meeting economic targets
for the next decade and later.
Also emphasising on the importance
of meeting the international
labour rights standards, Asif Iqbal
said Bangladesh will need to make
necessary changes in order to negotiate
smartly with the European Union
on Generalised System of Preferences
(GSP); considering nearly 55%
of Bangladesh’s GDP is dependent
on ready-made garment industry.
Executive chairman of Bangladesh
Economic Zone Authority
Paban Chowdhury said: “We have
already created a land bank to ease
crisis of land for businesses and
industries. Out of 100, a total of 76
land units of Economic Zones have
already been leased.” •
GlaxoSmithKline Bangladesh Ltd held 44th Annual General Meeting
recently at Hotel Agrabad, Chittagong. GlaxoSmithKline directors are
seen at the AGM: from left, Masud Khan, Zinnia Tanzina Huq, David
Pritchard, Erum Shakir Rahim, Rajib Barua and Iftikhar-uz-Zaman
Mohiuddin panel to
contest FBCCI poll
• Shariful Islam
A panel under the title of
“Sammilito Ganatantrik Parishad”
has been announced to
contest the upcoming biennial
election of the country’s top
trade body.
The election for the 2017-19
term is scheduled to be held
May 14.
Running first Vice-President
of FBCCI, also former
President of Bangladesh Garment
Manufacturers and
Exporters Association Md
Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin
made the announcement as
panel leader at a press conference
at a hotel in Dhaka yesterday.
It was attended by former
FBCCI presidents Salman F
Rahman, Annisul Huq, Mir
Nasir Hossain, AK Azad and
Kazi Akram Uddin, former
first vice-president Jasim Uddin,
vice-presidents Mohammad
Ali and Helal Uddin and
BGMEA President Md Siddiqur
Rhaman, among others.
Salman F Rahman said they
have formed the panel negotiating
with the candidates. “I
hope all of you will work for
the win of the panel.” •