Be a part of our historic growth: HPM Sheikh Hasina to investors

"Today's Bangladesh is a totally changed Bangladesh. People of Bangladesh are now much more confident. They are more self-confident and committed to materializing any impossible task," she said.

"This is the most opportune moment to show your dynamic role and be part of our historic growth and development," the prime minister said inaugurating two-day Bangladesh Investment and Policy Summit-2016 on Sunday morning.

Highlighting the country's economic progress and steps taken by her government for industrial and business promotion, she assured the foreign investors of full security and profitability of their investment.

"It's our highest level of commitment to facilitate your realistic proposals quickly and jointly and give full value of your money," she said.

The summit has been aimed at highlighting latest policy developments for private sector growth in Bangladesh to showcase private sector investment opportunities in key sectors and demonstrate opportunities for potential value addition in those sectors for a sustained economic growth.

Board of Investment (BOI), Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD) and Prime Minister's Office (PMO) are jointly organizing the Bangladesh Investment and Policy Summit at Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel here.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Industries Minister and vice chairman of BoI Amir Hossain Amu, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Chief Minister of Indian State of Meghalaya Dr Mukul Sangma spoke on the occasion.

Vice chairman of Reliance Industries Limited, India Samir K Gupta, South Asia Region CEO of Axiata Limited Dr Hans Wijayasuriya, Chairman of Adani Group Gautam Adani, Director of the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group Sujoy Bose and FBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmed delivered speech in the inaugural session of the Summit.

PM's Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad made opening remarks while BoI Executive Chairman Dr SA Samad gave vote of thanks.

Local and foreign investors, both new and potential investors, experts of foreign investment (FDI) and industrial and international trade and policymakers, business entrepreneurs, government officials and policymakers are taking part in the Summit.

Congratulating the organizers of the summit the prime minister said overcoming all odds, Bangladesh economy has been progressing steadily for the last seven years with remarkable growth and transformations, despite volatilities in many external markets and very sluggish growth in the developed countries.

Pointing out her government's goal to make Bangladesh a middle income country by 2021, the prime minister said, "We expect your support to our journey as mutual cooperation is required to free the world hunger and poverty free.".

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has created immense opportunity for infrastructure development through public private partnership. New export processing zones and Special Economic Zones are being constructed to ensure competitive productive system in local and international market.

The prime minister said her government has undertaken plan to build up 100 economic zones in the country and ground breaking of 10 zones would be held next month. "Power, gas, road, bridge, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, sea port, auto mobiles, ceramics, textiles, leather, ICT and various services are main sectors for foreign investors in Bangladesh," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said during the previous five years, Bangladesh's average GDP growth was 6.2 percent which has been targeted to 7 percent this year.

"We are optimistic because, today's Bangladesh is a different Bangladesh from a half a decade ago," she said adding that Bangladesh's ability to attract private investment, both foreign and local, has increased.

Confidence and skill of local entrepreneurs has been boosted, acquiring ability to implement big projects. The initiative to implement the Padma Bridge project with our own fund is a testimony of our ability, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the size of Bangladesh's annual budget has been increased five times over the last six years. The export income and foreign exchange reserve were boosted.

The prime minister said her government would not do business, rather the government would create a business-friendly environment for businessmen.

In view of this, she said massive reforms have been carried out in infrastructures and, rules and regulations. "We have undertaken all types of initiatives to create an investment-friendly environment," she added.

Highlighting Bangladesh's efforts to expand regional, sub-regional and international cooperation, she said a new era of regional cooperation in South Asia has ushered a strong economic ties with neighbours.

"South Asia is poised to be a large centre of growth in the near future and then it would no longer remain 'a poor men's club'," she said.

Besides, trade and investment partnership with the countries across Asia and Pacific,

Middle-east and Central Asia, EU, Americas and Africa are going to next levels of engagement in expanding economic, social and cultural exchanges among our businesses and citizens, she added.

Sheikh Hasina said her government is making utmost efforts to provide and develop policy and regulatory framework conducive to the business community.

To identify private sector policy issues and resolve them in a systematic manner, she said, the PMO has set up the Private Sector Development Policy Coordination Committee (PSDPCC), which is represented by all relevant public offices and representative of business chambers and trade bodies.

She said the government has taken steps for diversifying energy and power infrastructure, expanding the agenda and scope of Digital Bangladesh, enhancing transport and communication infrastructure in roads, railway and highways, with future plans to expand inland waterways and port facilities.

Besides, steps were taken for improving institutional reforms of investment facilitation bodies like BOI, BEZA, PPP Authority, line ministries, to transform the investment climate and working towards a true one-stop service facility for services to the customers and clients, she said.

Chief Minister of Meghalaya and other foreign business entrepreneurs showered their praise on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina particularly for her dynamic leadership to pull Bangladesh out of poverty and other success in various sectors.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol