Newly elected Board of Directors of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) led by its President Abul Kasem Khan called on Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, MP at the Ministry today on 18th January, 2017. Senior Secretary, Ministry of Industries Md. Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, ndc and members of the Board of Directors of DCCI were also present during the meeting.
DCCI President in his speech said a policy is needed to create local supply source to SEZs and this will usher a new opportunities for our local SMEs to supply raw materials to the industries by their own capacity. He said that due to recent imposition of anti dumping duty by India on our jute export to that country, our jute and jute goods export to India will be affected as well as our bilateral trade with India will be affected. He further said that for future energy security we have to go for long term coal policy as our local coal reserve can boost country’s economic growth. Abul Kasem Khan reiterates to reduce cost of doing business and ensure ease of doing business in the country. According to DCCI’s estimate Bangladesh will require US$320 billion until 2030 for infrastructure development alone. Abul Kasem Khan requested the Industries Minister to include DCCI in National Committee for Industrial Development (NCID) to better serve and retain interests of SMEs. He again said that Bangladesh is an attractive place for investment, but we failed to bring expected FDI whereas Cambodia and Vietnam are getting FDI in manifold. Government should look into the matter seriously and should formulate a long term strategic policy for infrastructure development which is directly linked to attract FDI. He also proposed to allocate separate industrial plots for SMEs in SEZs. He said Bangladesh has huge potential for exporting halal food and halal certification. So, government can tap this opportunity to introduce halal certification in our country, he proposed.
Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, MP said that he would visit India to attend Bengal Global Business Summit tomorrow (19 January, 2017). He will discuss the issue of imposed anti dumping duty with the Chief Minister of Kolkata along with other concerned policy makers during his visit. He said under the initiative of Ministry of Industries halal certification for halal food export can be arranged by BSTI by strengthening its capacity. He also assured the business leaders of separate plots for SMEs in BSCIC Industrial areas as well as single digit lending rate for SMEs. Industries Minister said regarding paper production from jute pulp, we have to ensure adequate import or local production of its raw materials first. Industries Minister urged the industry owners to produce quality products to attract foreign buyers. For workers’ skill development the Minister urged the businessmen to come forward to establish training institutes.
Senior Vice President of DCCI Kamrul Islam, FCA said we have to facilitate our light engineering sector and the backward linkage industry as well. DCCI Vice President Hossain A Sikder said there are 125 industries in Keranigonj BSCIC Industrial area, but due to lack of gas connection their production is very low, despite this potential industrial area is adjacent to Dhaka. He also proposed for continuation of package VAT up to 2021.
DCCI Directors Engr. Akber Hakim, Imran Ahmed, K. Atique-e-Rabbani, FCA, Kh. Rashedul Ahsan, Mamun Akbar, Md. Alauddin Malik, Osman Gani, Riyadh Hossain and Secretary General AHM Rezaul Kabir were also present at that time.