Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met private sector entrepreneurs today at the Prime Minister’s Office in a meeting organized by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).
The discussion covered business expansion, new industrial activity and foreign investment. Business leaders discussed access to finance, policy support and the business environment, while noting progress in several areas. They also presented a roadmap to raise export earnings to $100bn by 2030.
The Prime Minister said the government and businesses shared an understanding of the challenges facing the economy, and that dialogue would continue as the government worked to address them. Referring to the earlier meeting with private-sector entrepreneurs in April, he said that many of the issues raised at the time had since been addressed.
Of the 28 issues discussed in April, decisions have been taken on 21. The remaining seven are still under review. The Prime Minister added that the government would examine the new issues raised at today’s meeting and meet business representatives again within two to three months.
The meeting was attended by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury; Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed; Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku; Commerce, Industries, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir; Road Transport, Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam; the Prime Minister’s Adviser for Finance and Planning, Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir; BIDA Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury; Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman; senior government officials; and representatives of business groups.
