Speakers at a research report unveiling ceremony on Sunday stressed need to enabling pro-business policies to unlock great possibilities for Bangladesh to attract much needed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) organized the event titled "Accelerating Bangladesh" to discuss opportunities where a research report on 3 growth drivers to accelerating investment was unveiled.
By showcasing the roadmap and the research report, FICCI shared its vision on the country’s next economic leap through FDI.
The summit discussed about the global best practices to follow in development planning, policy formulation, and generating FDI.
The event observed ministers, advisors, government officials, policy makers, diplomats, business leaders, its members and other stakeholders who joined together to explore the roadmap. The research report was prepared on behalf of FICCI by Policy Exchange Bangladesh and it highlighted Agribusiness, Digital Economy, and Green Finance as the Growth Drivers of Bangladesh in Accelerating Investment Opportunities. Both the event and the research report commensurate the 50th year of Independence of Bangladesh and the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Planning Minister MA Mannan was present as the chief guest while and Salman F Rahman, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to Prime Minister joined as a special guest.
Shwapna Bhowmick, EC Member of FICCI and Country Manager of Marks and Spencer was the Program Chair for the event. In addition, FICCI President and Managing Director of Berger Paints Bangladesh - Rupali Haque Chowdhury, FICCI Vice President and Managing Director of Singer Bangladesh - M.H.M Fairoz, EC member of FICCI and CEO of Standard Chartered Bank - Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Executive Director of FICCI - T.I.M Nurul Kabir and many other thought leaders were present at the event.
“I believe this roadmap presentation and the 3 growth drivers will be a good reference in the development planning and will bring in Foreign Development Investment (FDI) to aid our economy flourish in all sectors,” said M.A Manan MP and the Planning Minister.
Furthermore he said, “We need to keep this in mind that these driving sectors will be the key agents of success. Besides this initiative will also focus on a host of small yet strategically important sectors. Supporting their competitiveness through sharing global best practices and exploring policy opportunities in Bangladesh will be key to unlocking the potential across the economy.”
According to the research report, Bangladesh’s resiliency and prosperity can be attributed to number of causes, including increased private sector involvement, remittances, economic liberalization, and trade integration.
“I am happy that FICCI has done a terrific job along with the help of Policy Exchange of Bangladesh and has come with this research book with appropriate measures”, said Salman F Rahman, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to Prime Minister
“FICCI is here to extend full support to the Government in promoting FDI. We has been providing National Budget Proposals to the government regularly not only to improve its revenue collection but also to make a business friendly atmosphere for doing business in Bangladesh,” Rupali Haque Chowdhury FICCI President.
Moreover she said, “FICC has played a major role in building a sustainable community across sanitation, infrastructure, education, employment, and along with economic development, we also engage in policy advocacy.”
The inaugural session was on “Changing the landscape”. Subsequently came “Branding Bangladesh” where Md. Sirazul Islam - BIDA Chairman, Yasir Azman- CEO of Grameenphone, Barrister Nihad Kabir President of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce & Industry and many other were as the discussants to discuss the key aspects to generate more FDI and ways to achieve the developed Bangladesh goal.
