Implementing SDGs: President calls for cooperation to bridge financing gap

Noting that financing gap is the main challenge for Bangladesh to attain Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, President Abdul Hamid yesterday called for cooperation among nations, including developed countries, to be more active in mobilising required funds. 

“It’s not possible for a single country to mobilise the required funds. That’s why we’ve been urging for cooperation among nations, including developed countries, to be more active,” he said.

The President was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Asia-Pacific conference on “Financing Inclusive and Sustainable Development” at hotel InterContinental Dhaka.

International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh -- in collaboration with UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), ICC (global), Asian Development Bank and Financial Institutions Division -- organised the programme to celebrate 100 years of ICC.

Abdul Hamid said Bangladesh is one of the most successful countries in terms of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The government is working actively to attain the targets for Agenda 2030 and SDGs, he said, adding that the main challenge for Bangladesh and other developing countries is to fill the financing gap.

The President said the government has already created an enabling and friendly environment for business and investment. The foreign direct investment jumped by 58 percent in 2018 from 2017, he added.

To attract more foreign and domestic investment that are sustainable, the government has decided to set up 100 economic zones across the country, said Abdul Hamid, adding that Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority is carrying out work in this regard.

He said the government has taken specific and integrated programmes to accomplish its goals of transforming the country into a middle-income one by 2021 and a developed one by 2041. 

Like Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will also be implemented in time, resulting in the establishment of a developed and prosperous country, the president said.

Abdul Hamid enjoyed two video messages of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister Salman F Rahman, ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman and Under-Secretary General of UN and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Dr Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana were also present at the programme.