Bangladesh has been ranked in the 137th position out of 179 countries in the International Supply Chain Connectivity which highlights the extent of a country’s facilitation of import and export process as well as access to efficient maritime services, said Asia Pacific Trade and Investment Report-2013 released on Saturday. Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and United Nation Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific launched the report in Dhaka at a ceremony held at DCCI auditorium.
The report suggested for improved working condition, better wages for the garment workers in Bangladesh.
It also stressed on gender balance in the workplace, infrastructure development, access to the education and social dialogue or policy making.
The Asia Pacific Trade and Investment Report has forecast that export growth of Asia Pacific region will remain over 5 per cent in 2013 and 6 per cent in 2014.
Developing countries in the Asia Pacific region attracted over 33 per cent foreign direct investment, the report added.
Reducing the cost of international trade transactions has become a priority for government’s intent to facilitating the effective integration of firms in regional and global production networks, the report focused.
To ensure a sustainable economic development, Bangladesh needs policy consistency and political stability, said BFTI chief executive officer Md Mozibur Rahman.
Continuation of policy and political peace and stability are fundamental in the world for trade and investment, he said.
Smooth movement of goods and people have to be ensured on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway for sake of the economy of Bangladesh, Mozibur said.
He called upon all political parties to keep transportation of industrial goods and other supply chain management relating to trade and commerce out of political activities.
‘I request all political parties to keep highways free from strike,’ Mozibur said.
He also stressed on reducing cost of doing businesses and reducing banks’ lending rate to single digit.
Mozibur informed that the BFTI was working hard to form a comprehensive trade policy which would be encouraging for trade and investment.
DCCI president Md Sabur Khan urged for harmonisation of common standard in Asia Pacific region and emphasised on trade and export-led economic growth in the Asia Pacific region.
He stressed on infrastructure development utilising the public-private partnership format and facility.
Sabur also stressed on considerable use of ICT in the banking sector and urged for making intellectual property acts more effective.
Business Initiative Leading Development chief executive officer Ferdaus Ara Begum emphasised on the development of the country’s service sector, especially the tourism sector.
She also demanded the Export Promotion Bureau revive an earlier programme called ‘One District One Product’.
BFTI senior research fellow Mohammad Abu Yusuf presented the keynote paper on the occasion.
He pointed out for increased ICT connectivity saying it was an increasingly important factor for productivity.
Yusuf also called for ensuring a social dialogue on policy reforms.
DCCI vice-president Absar Karim Chowdhury, directors M Abu Hurairah, Abdus Salam and Md Shoaib Choudhury also spoke on the occasion.
Courtesy of New Age
