Keep business above politics

Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina yesterday called on the government to keep business above politics and solve entrepreneurs' problems urgently to ensure their greater contribution to development.

Addressing the close of three-day Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition (Batexpo-2003), she said unless the government provided businesspeople with supportive policies, trade and investment would not sustain.

Bangladesh Garment Manu-facturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) organised the 14th edition of the annual event to showcase garment products at Sonargaon Hotel that ended yesterday.

"The government should create a business-friendly environment for national development and all political parties should reach a consensus that their activities do not affect economic activities," said Hasina, also the president of the main opposition Awami League (AL).

She assured the businesspeople that her party would extend all possible support to them, but skirted the hartal issue on which the businesspeople pressed for assurance.

She urged the government to fulfil the demands of business people, especially that of garment exporters who contribute 75 percent to the export basket and employ 18 lakh people.

Hasina asked the government to implement Saarc cumulative initiative offered by the European Union to increase textile and readymade garment (RMG) exports worth Tk 3,000 crore a year.

She also called upon the administration to give a nod to the setting up of a central bonded warehouse in the private sector to help RMG exporters improve lead time, a vital factor to attract buyers.

The government has only 14 months to work out a strategy on possible RMG export decline after expiry of the multi-fibre arrangements, the former premier said.

She alleged that the government was failing to take up development projects because of widespread corruption.

"Nepotism runs high in every sphere of the administration and it has not spared allocation of quotas for RMG exporters," she said.

She said the government failed to declare a list of commercially important persons (CIPs) which is an incentive to the businesspersons and a recognition of their contribution.

"When the government has decided to stop development programmes at Comilla, Mongla, Ishwardi and Nilphamari, how will foreign direct investment flow increase?" Hasina said.

If the AL is voted into office, it will amend the labour law allowing women to work at night and also form a cell to promptly solve the problems of businesspeople and investors.

Former finance minister SAMS Kibria said if set up with proper safeguard measures, the proposed central bonded warehouse would increase export of RMGs and improve delivery time and cost-effectiveness.

He said frequent policy shifts by the government was hurting businesses.

"Businessmen can not draw up long-term plans because of frequent policy shifts and discontinuation of some projects of previous governments also hamper overall national development," he said.

AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil said the government's decision to phase out cash incentives to RMG exporters would leave the highest export-earning sector in stasis.

"In stead of providing support for exporters, the government has reduced cash incentives to 15 percent from 25 percent which shows its attitude towards business promotion. Worst still, it has also decided to phase out cash incentive in three years which is suicidal," Jalil said.

Presiding over the function, BGMEA President Quazi Moniruzzman urged political parties of all hues to set aside differences to put business above politics.

"When countries are freeing markets under the WTO regime, we, in our homeland, are being confined and held hostage by political parties for their uncompromising attitude and ignorance about the contribution of trade and business to national development," he regretted.