Bss, Chittagong
Commerce Minister Lt Col (retd) Muhammad Faruk Khan yesterday assured the entrepreneurs in Readymade Garment (RMG) sector of all necessary policy support so that Bangladesh could secure the top position among the RMG exporting countries.
Terming the government of Sheikh Hasina a trade and investment-friendly one, the commerce minister promised the business community that they would see the real result and impact of the government’s commitment towards the promotion of trade and investment by next four months.
While speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of 3-day fair of garments and textile products and accessories titled “Chittagong Apparel Fabric and Accessories Exposition-2009” (CAFAXPO-2009), Faruq Khan called upon the entrepreneurs to put in their best efforts in accelerating the economic growth by their talents and hard work.
Chittagong chapter of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) organised the fair at IEB Chittagong centre auditorium. Entrepreneurs in RMG and textile sectors from home and abroad have been participating the event by setting up 33 stalls to showcase their products and services.
Chittagong City Mayor Alhaj ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and FBCCI President Annisul Huq spoke at the function as special guests.
With BGMEA President Anwarul Alam Chowdhury Pervez in the chair, BGMEA first vice president MA Salam, among others, spoke at the function.
Faruq Khan said the present government has been working hard from the very beginning to ensure sustainable economic progress of the country by changing the lot of the people.
He said there was a correlation among the profit from the business, further investment, employment, increased export and economic growth and the government was pledge-bound to do everything possible to continue the chain-work of economic activities.
Seeking wholehearted cooperation from the government to make the country’s economic vibrant, the commerce minister said, “the present government is your government and all necessary measures will be taken so that Bangladesh could emerge as top RMG exporting countries within next 5 years.”
“We want to reach the top position by launching competition of good and positive work,” he said referring to Bangladesh’s young cricketer Sakib Al Hasan, who secured top all rounder position in the global cricket ranking.
He conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the people of Chittagong and said she reiterated her commitment to the development of the economically potential region according to her election pledge.
Faruk Khan called upon the members of the business community to supplements the government’s efforts for establishing a digital Bangladesh as per goal “Vision 2021” through incorporating more technologies in their business enterprises.
The Chittagong mayor sought government permission for the implementation of a CCC project aiming at setting up garments village on 1,500 acres of land at Fateyabad.
He also emphasised the need for establishing a central bonded warehouse besides port area, earmarked a jetty exclusively for handling export-import of garments and fixation of a reasonable wage scale for workers in the sector.
Annisul Huq said Bangladesh lagging behind three and half days from international trade deadline due to public holiday on Friday and called upon the government to fix Sunday as weekly public holiday for the convenient of export-import trade.
He also demanded the government to take steps to lower the bank interest and service charges for expediting the trade and investment.
Anwarul Alam Chowdhury Pervez said achieving annual export earning from RMG products to 25 billion US dollar from current 10.72 billion US dollar would not a difficult task for Bangladeshi entrepreneurs if government provides necessary policy support to achieve the goal.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
