Hope for an industrial hub
Bangladesh can become an industrial hub of Asia as the country has a proven capacity in textile, food and pharmaceutical industries, says the chief of a United Nations body.
Kandeh K Yumkella, director general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido), also says the country needs to adopt green technologies to make its growing industrial sector sustainable.
“You have a proven capacity to be a manufacturing hub that can make products not only for domestic use but also for trading internationally,” says Yu-mkella who came to Bangladesh on Sunday on a three-day state visit.
He says other emerging economies in Asia are looking for a regional industrial hub, which Bangladesh has the potential to become, and Unido wants to provide support in making it.
“I am also here to see how to create some opportunities for South-South-cooperation with India and other emerging economies in the region. They are also looking for a manufacturing hub.”
Yumkella says Bangladesh has the right plan of action to become a regional industrial hub, and the development partners in cooperation with the UN agencies are ready to provide all-out support to the country in achieving the target.
Praising the government's ambitious 'Vision 2021', the Unido DG says Bangladesh has the right policy in place to give incentive to the foreign investors and bolster their confidence.
“Unido wants to support the vision that requires rapid industrialisation to create jobs and wealth.”
Referring to the Unido plan to make readymade garment industry sustainable, Yumkella says the UN body will help establish a National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC) in Bangladesh so the industries of the country become energy efficient and environment friendly.
The NCPC will conduct regular inspection at factories to ensure efficient use of energy, water and other natural resources.
The centre will also help establish effluent treatment plants to manage industrial waste and dyeing, the Unido chief says.
He says the NCPC will be a homegrown institution with supports from the development partners who will make available the resources of the best industrial practices.
Unido is already supporting the textile and garment sector in Bangladesh. Yumkella says it has several projects in the country to help improve designs for garments and develop entrepreneurship.
“Now what we want to do is to complement our programme in this sector with advisory services on sustainability."
The Unido will help the factories cope with energy crisis, optimise water use and reduce effluent, he says.
About introducing renewable energy projects, Yumkella says the Unido will provide solar panels to the community health care centres.
“We have offered help to the Bangladesh government so it can introduce solar energy to the community health care centres to make it popular,” he says.
Yumkella says the UN is encouraging the private sector across the world to come and invest in Bangladesh.
“We have begun encouraging private sector to invest in Bangladesh so local companies can assemble the renewable energy products.”
He says the Unido will also promote Bangladesh as a good manufacturing hub.
Yumkella, who is on a 15-day visit to Asia, met the prime minister, health minister, industries minister and other dignitaries. He will leave Dhaka today for Colombo and Tokyo.
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