Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government will soon fix the interest rate of bank loan for the sake of industrial growth.
"I'm aware of bank interest rate issue. I'll discuss the matter with the finance minister, finance adviser and other officials concerned soon to determine the rate," Hasina said at an award giving ceremony at Osmani Memorial auditorium in the capital.
She handed over trophies and certificates to 39 best exporters of 2008-09 fiscal year.
At present, the interest rate for industrial credit is 13 percent in all commercial banks. But bankers have been lobbying for increasing the rate.
"But, you, the businessmen, should pay taxes properly. If you pay the tax duly, we'll be able to supply gas and power to industrial units and build good infrastructures for uninterrupted business operation," the premier said.
She also assured the businessmen of developing the waterways and railways on a priority basis for a faster transport of their goods at a cheaper price.
Hasina asked the business community to create a domestic market for their products so that people can get those at a competitive price.
The prime minister stressed that the owners ensure proper working environment and other facilities for the workers.
To increase the overall trade volume of the country, the government is negotiating to export more products to the Saarc countries under the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (Safta).
Last year, Bangladesh exported eight million pieces of duty-free garment items to India under the agreement. The government will export the same quantity to India this year too, Hasina said.
She asked the businessmen to increase export of jute and agro-products and adopt green technologies to save the environment.
Hasina said garment and shrimp exports to European Union countries faced problems during the BNP government in the 90s but the Awami League government addressed the issue after assuming office in 1996.
On power, she said her government added 1,403 megawatt of electricity to the national grid in the last two years. "It's not possible to improve the situation overnight.”