The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) yesterday inaugurated its extended office, called the "DCCI Gulshan Centre", to render business related services to its members in the quickest possible time.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi inaugurated the new office space at the chamber's own premises in Dhaka's Gulshan, according to a statement from the DCCI.

The country's entire business community is working together to achieve Vision 2041, Munshi said at the inauguration.

Bangladesh's economy is an agro-based economy and it needs to give emphasis on this sector, including diversification.

"Moreover, we need to strengthen our small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for better expansion of our economy," the commerce minister added.

Munshi went on to say the new extension of DCCI in the north side of the city is a reflection of its strength and he hopes that the chamber will be able to serve the business community more in the days to come.

Md Jashim Uddin, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said Bangladesh still lags behind in the logistics sector, but it is necessary to prioritise the sector to attract foreign direct investment.

Uddin also said removing traffic congestion on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway and ensuring faster services at sea ports will help boost the economy. He sought cooperation from the commerce ministry to strengthen chamber bodies and sectoral associations.

"In order to achieve the goal of becoming a developed country and face the challenges of LDC graduation, we have to give more focus on different promising business sectors."

He is hopeful that the DCCI Gulshan Centre will extend better services not only to its own members, but also the overall business community. 

DCCI President Rizwan Rahman said the main objective of establishing the DCCI Gulshan Centre is to provide wide ranging and faster membership services as well as disseminating business information to the business community.

"SMEs are the lifeline of our economy and to face the upcoming challenges of LDC graduation and economic growth we need to facilitate this sector," he added.

NKA Mobin, senior vice-president of the DCCI, Monowar Hossain, vice-president, and former presidents of the chamber were also present at the ceremony.