Govt to simplify one-stop service in industries
Industries Minister Dilip Barua speaks at a seminar on City Cluster Economic Development in South Asian Countries, organised by Asian Development Bank, in Dhaka yesterday.Photo: STAR
Industries Minister Dilip Barua said yesterday the government wants to simplify the one-stop service in the industrial sector to encourage investment by foreign entrepreneurs and expatriate Bangladeshis.
“The one-stop service facility will be made effective by simplifying legal and procedural formalities to encourage investment by foreign entrepreneurs and expatriate Bangladeshis,” he said at the national forum on City Cluster Economic Development in South Asian Countries in Dhaka.
Asian Development Bank organised the programme in cooperation with the Centre for Urban Studies (CUS) and Strategic Planning and Management Services (SPMS), Australia, at a city hotel with CUS Chairman Prof Nazrul Islam in the chair.
SPMS International Project Coordinator Prof Brian Roberts, CUS Secretary Prof Nurul Islam Nazem, President of Bangladesh Economic Association Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed and ADB representative Dr Kay Cheo, among others, attended the programme.
Speaking as chief guest, the industries minister said the investment policy would be geared to implement a strategy that would attract both domestic and foreign investment.
Emphasising the cluster industrial zone, he said the government is going to set up special economic zone in a coordinated way to ensure balanced economic activities and industrialisation across the country.
“We have allocated lands and made available other facilities to set up plastic industries in Keraniganj and pharmaceutical plants at Gajaria in Munshiganj.”
Barua said the government would give priority to agro-based and labour-intensive industries while highest priority would be given to information technology (IT) and knowledge-based industrial sectors.
He said development of shipbuilding and IT industries, strengthening textile sectors, and expansion of food processing, plastic, automobile, ceramic, pharmaceuticals, leather, chemical products, toy, jewellery and furniture industries would be given all out support for expanding markets at home and abroad.
Measures will be put in place, he assured, to protect indigenous industries and assistance will be provided for expansion of small, medium and cottage industries.
The minister said the government would ensure expansion of tourism sector, increased labor export and investment of remittance in productive sectors.
Rapid expansion of stock market, maintenance of law and order, and eliminating corruption are the key areas where the government will take effective measures, he added.
The CUS chairman urged the government and stakeholders concerned to pursue an environmental policy for the three cities -- Dhaka, Chittagong and Khulna -- as 50 percent of the total population of the country reside in these cities in order to work in urban industries or related organisations.
He said the urban sector of Bangladesh has a share of 25 percent of its population and they contribute more than 60 percent to the GDP.
Prof Nazrul suggested that a comprehensive policy should be taken for the cities as there are no urban and transportation policies now.
Talking to the reporters after the function, Barua said the industries ministry would soon start training around 10,000 women as part of the government's efforts for generating employment.
Comments