Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday invited the business and industrial leaders of Belarus to be partner of Bangladesh’s development and share benefits,
profits and gains from its liberal FDI policy.
‘Your presence is also valuable for us in our journey to progress and prosperity in future,’ she said, adding, ‘Bangladesh offers the most liberal FDI policies in South Asian countries.’
The prime minister was addressing a business council meeting organised jointly by the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belarus Chambers and Commerce and Industry at Minsk National Library on the day.
‘Bangladesh has business sector with its innovative entrepreneurs, efficient managers, workforce at affordable wages, and offers tremendous scope for lucrative business,’ she said.
Hasina mentioned that the current industrial policy of the government offers special incentives in agriculture, food processing, shipbuilding, renewable energy, tourism, ICT goods and services, pharmaceuticals and ceramics sectors.
Belarus prime minister Mikhail Myasnikovich, FBCCI president Qazi Akram Uddin Ahmed and BelCCI president Mikhail Mialikov also spoke on the occasion.
The prime minister said despite global economic recession, Bangladesh maintained its 6.5 per cent GDP growth during the last couple of years and the target is to reach it to double digits by 2017 and sustain it till 2021 to become a middle income country.
She said the region is a big market of 3 billion people with rapidly increasing their purchasing power and consumption capacities.
‘Bangladesh is going to be the economic hub of the region, as it is strategically located as a bridge between South and South East Asia and is also close to China,’ she added.
Moreover, she said, Bangladesh enjoyed an open market economy, and the private sector was the main stimulus for the growth.
Terming Bangladesh a lucrative destination for
foreign investors, the prime minister said its investment-friendly status had been recognised by many international research and rating bodies.
Hasina said Bangladesh’s FDI policies amongst others offer corporate tax holidays from 5 to 7 years, legal protection in the case of nationalisation, full repatriation of capital and dividends, concessionary duty on the import of machinery, export incentives, allowing 100 per cent foreign equity and unrestricted exit policy.
Besides, she said, added attraction is country’s duty-free and quota-free access of products to the EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India and other countries, providing a competitive edge to investors in Bangladesh.
Hasina said the public-private partnership policy of Bangladesh invites investments in building infrastructures, power stations, a deep sea port and an international airport.
‘We have also taken steps to establish seven special economic zones in seven different areas of the country with all facilities for FDI,’ she said.
Earlier, Hasina visited the historic Victory Square near the ‘House of Government’.
On her arrival at the Victory Square, she was formally welcomed by Minsk mayor Mikolai Ladutsko.
Later, she placed a wreath and stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of respect to the millions died in the World War II.
-With New Age input
