‘Digitalisation key to smooth business’

Ensuring infrastructure facilities and logistics support in Bangladesh are the main challenges for the country to flourish in global trade, according to a top official of a global logistics company.

"Ensuring adequate infrastructure at seaports and digitalisation of management systems are the main challenges for Bangladesh," Laurent Olmeta, CEO of CMA CGM Asia Pacific Limited, said in an interview with The Daily Star yesterday.

To improve the infrastructure facilities, the government should focus on the essential transportation system, which includes building roads and bridges, he added.

Olmeta then said they expect Bangladesh to improve the ease of doing business by simplifying the country's institutional facilities through digitalisation.

"We want to connect all stakeholders promptly through digitalisation," Olmeta said at the ongoing three-day Bangladesh Business Summit at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka.

The event is being held by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) in association with the government as a part of the former's 50th anniversary celebrations.

The world is moving towards digitalisation and so, Bangladesh also has a prospective plan to become a developed country by 2041 through digitalisation.

"It's a very good step from the Bangladesh government. As a private company, we are ready to help the country," Olmeta said.

He expects the opening of the Matarbari deep seaport in 2026 will have a significant impact on the country's economy by facilitating global trade.

CMA CGM Asia Pacific Limited has been operating in Bangladesh since 1996.

Regarding the main hurdles for global trade in Bangladesh, Olmeta said a dedicated port service is needed in the country as the current facilities cannot handle large vessels.

CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land and air logistics solutions, recently announced the launch of a new Bangladesh India Gulf Express (BIGEX) service.

The service will debut as the first and fastest direct service that connects Bangladesh to Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi in the Gulf as well as Nhava Sheva and Mundra in India, he added.