President stresses wider export market
President Zillur Rahman yesterday emphasised expansion of international market for the country's export-oriented industries in line with increasing investment in various sectors with a view to building a happy and prosperous Bangladesh by 2021.
“Investment and production will have to be increased on priority basis in various sectors including power and energy, communication, port development, agriculture research, food security and information technology to keep continuity of high economic growth,” he said when an FBCCI delegation led by its president Annisul Haq paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban.
During the meeting, the President expressed his firm belief that the people would be able to free the country from hunger and poverty utilising the latest information technology by its golden jubilee of independence in 2021.
About the vision-2021, he said the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has various plans for increasing the annual economic growth by eight percent within 2017 and 10 percent in 2017 under the roadmap of vision-2021.
“According to the economists, investment expenditure will have to be increased by up to 35-40 percent of GDP to gain such growth.”
The President said it is not possible for the government alone to mobilise such additional resources and it needs cooperation from the private entrepreneurs. In this regard, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative taken by the government is very important, he added.
He urged the FBCCI leaders to play a responsible role for keeping the annual economic growth at higher level in line with stimulating the country's financial sector.
The President said the FBCCI as the apex trade body has been providing suggestions to the government in formulating guidelines for the financial, commercial and industrial relations apart from making contributions in improving the national economy.
About the global economic recession, he said the government has been relentlessly working to face the impact of global recession and mentioned that a high level taskforce led by the finance minister has been working in this regard.
Besides, a financial stimulation package has been declared for keeping the balance in global trade and commerce and increasing the exports, he added.
Describing the present international trade as very competitive, the President stressed the need for taking various measures to expand the international market along with keeping the export growth. “Our labour force will have to be fully employed through setting up new potential industries in the country,” he said.
The FBCCI delegation sought the President's support in setting up a special economic zone in Sylhet and developing the infrastructure, particularly electricity and roads and highway, for smooth economic development.
The delegation told the President that traffic jam in the capital city should be reduced immediately along with facilitating the businessmen's access to the government.
Secretary of the President's Office Mohammad Shafiul Alam, Military Secretary to the President Major General Md Ehtesham Ul Haque and President's Press Secretary Abdul Awal Howlader were present during the meeting.
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