Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted July 30, 2021 Elite Members Share Posted July 30, 2021 https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/world-bank-lauds-bangladeshs-economic-growth-despite-downturn-281083 World Bank lauds Bangladesh's economic growth despite downturn UNB 30 July, 2021, 10:50 am Last modified: 30 July, 2021, 10:55 am The World Bank has acknowledged Bangladesh's remarkable economic development and growth, and reassured the global lender's continued support for this country's prosperity. Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister, Salman Fazlur Rahman, met with World Bank's Managing Director (Operations) Axel van Trotsenburg and other high-ranking officials at its global headquarters in Washington DC recently. Salman led the Bangladeshi delegation, which included Abdur Rouf Talukder, Senior Secretary, Finance Division, Ministry of Finance, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Secretary, Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance, and Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition to Trotsenburg, the World Bank Group was also represented by John F Gandolfo, Vice President (South Asia Region), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Mohammad Shafiul Alam, Bangladesh's Alternate Executive Director to the global financial institution. In the meeting with the World Bank's MD, Adviser Salman highlighted Bangladesh's unprecedented economic development under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterating that the country's economy was on a solid footing. In particular, he underscored Bangladesh's economic performance and the GDP growth of 5.24% despite the pandemic-induced economic downturn. Salman recalled the continued financial assistance provided by the World Bank to Bangladesh and thanked the global lending body for its contribution. He also highlighted the need to reduce procedural delay -- through bilateral discussions and close engagement -- in the disbursement of the loans sanctioned by the World Bank for Bangladesh to purchase Covid-19 vaccines on an emergency basis. At a separate meeting, the Bangladesh delegation led by Adviser Rahman met with IFC's South Asia Vice President and the World Bank's acting South Asia Vice President. Both sides agreed to accelerate cooperation in crucial areas, including Bangladesh's reform efforts regarding ease of doing business, BIDA's institutional capacity enhancement, and skills and human resources development. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted July 31, 2021 Elite Members Share Posted July 31, 2021 https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2021/07/31/vietnam-overtakes-bangladesh-becomes-2nd-largest-rmg-exporter Vietnam overtakes Bangladesh, becomes 2nd largest RMG exporter Tribune Desk Published at 06:25 pm July 31st, 2021 Bangladesh now stands in the third position, with China holding its first position Vietnam overtook Bangladesh in the global apparel market and became the second-largest global ready-made garment (RMG) exporter. Bangladesh now stands in the third position, with China holding its first position. According to the World Trade Statistical Review 2021 released by World Trade Organization (WTO) on Friday, Bangladesh’s share in the global apparel market dropped to 6.3% in 2020 from 6.8% a year earlier. The market value for Bangladesh was $28 billion in the year 2020. Meanwhile, the share of Vietnam in global RMG exports stood at 6.4% in 2020, up from 6.2% a year earlier. The market value stood at $29 billion at the end of 2020. To put it into perspective, the share of Vietnam in the global export market was 2,9% back in the year 2010 while Bangladesh’s share in the global apparel export market was 4.2%, which was 85.5% more than Vietnam’s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted August 15, 2021 Elite Members Share Posted August 15, 2021 https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/bangladeshs-rmg-export-to-chile-china-brazil-falls-sharply-1628999349 Bangladesh's RMG export to Chile, China, Brazil falls sharply MONIRA MUNNI | Published: August 15, 2021 09:49:09 Readymade garment (RMG) exports to three non-traditional markets of Chile, China, and Brazil declined sharply during the last two fiscal years (FYs) amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The apparel exports to China fell to US$271.28 million in just concluded FY 2020-21, marking a decline of more than 46 per cent from the earnings of FY 2018-19, according to official data. In 2018-19, Bangladesh shipped apparel items worth US$506.51 million to China, according to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) data. Similarly, RMG exports to Brazil stood at $70.73 million in FY 2020-21 which was $160.51 million in FY 2018-19. The shipments to Brazil witnessed more than 55 per cent fall in the last two FYs, BGMEA data showed. Meantime, the exports to Chile witnessed a declining trend with earnings of $82.56 million in the last FY which was $111.36 million in FY 2018-19. When asked, Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, a director of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) said the pandemic has hit hard the overall RMG exports in all its destinations. Though the performance was getting better gradually in the traditional markets like the USA and European Union, he said the growth is yet to reach the desired level in the non-traditional markets mainly because of the virus outbreak. "We have established our relationship with the buyers of traditional markets through communications with their local offices or emails or other virtual ways despite travel restrictions from time to time during the last two years," he said. On the other hand, both buyers and local suppliers could not move and explore the potential markets due to the travel restrictions, he said. "As a result, we can't nurture our relations with those buyers who mostly source from the third party." During the pandemic, China has reduced its purchase and met the local demand through its own production, Mr Ehsan added. Irfanul Hoque, director of Fatullah Fabrics Ltd, said China mostly imports low-end products from Bangladesh. In recent months, Chinese buyers have almost stopped their orders due to the rising trend in yarn prices, said Mr Hoque who exports products to China. BKMEA vice president Mohammad Hatem, who is the managing director of MB Knit Fashion Ltd, attributed high import duty in Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, and South Africa to the fall in exports to these countries. Turkey being an apparel-producing country took measures to protect its local manufacturers, he told the FE recently. Talking to the FE, managing director of Sparrow Group of Industries Shovon Islam, however, said that with the revival of economic activities followed by the downturn of coronavirus spread, they were getting inquiries and orders from Brazil, China, and South Korea for delivering in the upcoming months. Despite the pandemic, exports to Australia, Korea and Russia increased during the last two FYs, according to data. The country fetched $731.13 million from RMG exports to Australia in the last FY which was $719.78 million in FY 2018-19. Exports to Korea and Russia stood at $322.31 million and $593.66 million respectively in last FY which was $279.20 million and $488.58 million in FY 2018-19. The country fetched $31.45 billion from RMG exports in FY'21, up from $27.94 billion in FY'20. The RMG export earnings were $34.13 billion in FY 2018-19. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted August 17, 2021 Elite Members Share Posted August 17, 2021 https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/businesses-look-beyond-border-grow-its-not-easy-289753#.YRvqDdLbRnI.facebook Jasim Uddin & Abbas Uddin Noyon 17 August, 2021, 10:40 pm Last modified: 17 August, 2021, 10:51 pm Businesses look beyond border to grow, but it’s not easy Political instabilities in host countries and persisting pandemic limit the gains expected from overseas investment of Bangladeshi entrepreneurs, prompting some to pull out. Industry people say overseas investment is preferable to diversify export products and get more duty-free advantages across the globe to help Bangladesh overcome the looming challenges of the post-LDC graduation period. While some investors are already well on their way to become good performers in overseas businesses, others are preparing to go into production, but the pandemic has been a road bump on their way. Nevertheless, they are hoping to turn around in the coming days, they add. They also say some overseas investors are victims of political unrest in investment destinations such as Myanmar and Ethiopia. Investors and analysts also want Bangladesh authorities to ease the overseas investment rules to help enthusiastic entrepreneurs explore duty-free export benefits even after LDC graduation by prudent investment abroad. They also advised that businesses should carry out extensive research to identify potential areas of investment abroad to exploit global trade benefits. Not doing due diligence before investing in a foreign country, many businesses are now finding it difficult to sustain their investments. While some have been forced to pull out their investments, a few are performing well. In 2013, MJL Bangladesh Limited, as the first Bangladeshi company, formed a joint venture with a Myanmar-based petroleum company and invested $5.1 lakh in the neighbouring country. The company made good profit Initially. But a few years later, MJL started facing losses owing to the increasing political unrest in Myanmar, frequent policy changes and lack of accountability. Eventually, the company came back home by closing down its business in 2020 after suffering a massive loss. Azam J Chowdhury, managing director of MJL Bangladesh Limited and chairperson of East Coast Group, said rules and regulations in the country ruled by the junta are not business-friendly. Myanmar's exchange rate fluctuated so much that it became difficult for them to do business there, he added. "After withdrawing our investment from Myanmar, we started a business in Singapore and got good response there," he said, adding that they are now getting over 10% return alongside strengthening the company's global foothold. In another example of foreign investment, in 2018, the DBL Group set up a garment factory in Ethiopia's Tigray region to cash in on the country's duty-free access to the US market, low prices of land and cheap labour. The factory is also financially backed by Ethiopian Development Bank and Swedish fashion brand H&M. But conflict in the region in 2020 forced them to bring back its workers from Ethiopia after closing the factory. A reopening is still uncertain as the country's civil war rages on. On the other hand, some of them have to go through a long bureaucratic process in getting permission from the Bangladesh Bank for investment in foreign countries. As a result, some are unwilling to invest, while some others lose the opportunity owing to this lengthy process, they point out. Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Research Director Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem said it is a welcome move by Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to make a multinational brand of their companies, which will also help them gain confidence. Investors should conduct an in-depth study on their investment destinations, focusing on ease of doing business, investment situation, market access opportunity, and political stability in the countries. Investment under a joint-venture project will be the best solution for that, he added. The economist said Bangladesh should form an "outer investment wing" and formulate a complete policy on overseas investments. In the absence of a policy, such investments are currently given permission on a case-to-case basis by a committee of the central bank. He suggests the wing will choose investment destinations, taking into consideration taxation and other policies there, and bilateral business relations with Bangladesh to ensure the repatriation of investment. Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) President Rizwan Rahman said, "Bangladesh should follow India's model of overseas investments." Indian firms are allowed to invest abroad through mergers and acquisitions. This process helps Indian companies to get direct access to newer and more extensive markets and better technologies, which would enable them to increase their customer base and achieve a global reach. Meghna Group operations director Md Lutful Bari said, "The government should allow outbound investment from Bangladesh as a preparedness part to overcome LDC graduation challenges." Otherwise, some sectors might lose their competitiveness without duty-free market access, he added. The good performers Sparrow Group, a Bangladeshi apparel exporter, invested in Jordan in 2007 by forming a joint venture company with one of the leading Indian garment manufacturers. Shovon Islam, managing director of Sparrow Group, said, "We established the factory to produce some high-value garments for the US market at the Jordan export processing zone." Their pandemic-affected factory in Jordan is now recovering to normal as US stores have reopened, he added. Some 1600 Bangladeshi and 500 local people are now working in the factory, he also said adding, "Our annual turnover was $70 million. SEBPO, formerly known as ServicEngineBPO, is a leading global outsourcing partner to many of the world's largest advertising, media, and technology companies. The company is also doing well after recovering from a bad turn during the pandemic as their business mainly depends on the US economy. SEBPO is a sister concern of Abdul Monem Group. ASM Mohiuddin Monem, deputy managing director of Abdul Monem Group, said SEBPO is investing to expand its client base in European countries and the Middle East. SEBPO specialises in ad operations, creative services, data solutions, media planning, and quality assurance. The company offers industry expertise and process governance so organisations can scale, innovate, and control costs. Akij Group, one of the leading private sector conglomerates in the country, took over a Malaysian company named Robin Resources for $20 million. The company fetched a good return from the investment. Sk Bashiruddin, managing director of Akij Group, said they did not face new challenges in running the business as they acquired an old company. The return on the equity investment is satisfactory. At present, more than 500 people are working in it. Investors hoping to do well To go global, Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd, the domestic pharma giant, completed construction of its manufacturing plant in the Kenyan capital Nairobi at a cost of $17 million in 2017. All necessary infrastructure is also ready. But the manufacturing is yet to start because of the pandemic. Company officials say they had a target to start production in the Kenyan factory in 2020, but that did not happen as infrastructural work remained suspended for some time because of the pandemic. Now, all work has finished. Manufacturing will start soon. Square looks to get hold of the $30 million drug market in Kenya and five other East African countries – Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and South Sudan – and fulfil the unmet demands of medicines in those countries. Similarly, ACI Group invested $100 million in 2015 to grab a huge drug market in the United States. The group completed the construction of the automated factory two years ago as per the specifications of the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). But the company has not yet gone into production. An official at ACI Group said the last factory visit of the USFDA delegation was scheduled for June 2020 after all the equipment was installed, but the pandemic stalled that process. As a result, production is being delayed. In 2016, the Bangladesh Bank gave approval to BSRM for investing in the steel sector in Kenya. Subject to fulfilling some conditions, the company was permitted to invest $4.6 million from its balance in the export retention quota to build a factory in the country. BSRM was supposed to go into production by buying shares of Kenya East Africa Steel Limited, a joint-venture formed with the investment money. It also initially set a target of producing five lakh tonnes of MS rods a year to capture the African market. But the company could not start setting up the factory even five years after getting approval. Shekhar Ranjan Kar, chief financial officer of the group and company secretary of BSRM, told The Business Standard that they are facing trouble in purchasing land in Kenya. It is very difficult to complete all works complying with rules and regulations of that country. The process is being disrupted because of Covid-19. The way things are going, it will take at least another three years to set up the factory and go into production, Shekhar added. Companies yet to go for investment even after approval Getting approval from Bangladesh to invest abroad is a very tough task. Many companies could not go for investment in foreign countries because of a long delay in securing approval caused by bureaucratic tangles or policies of those countries were no longer conducive to them. Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited, one of the leading drugmakers in the country, applied to Bangladesh Bank, seeking permission to invest in Sri Lanka. When the company got the permission after a long delay, the opportunity to invest in Sri Lanka was lost, said Salman F Rahman, Prime Minister's adviser on private industry and investment, in a recent virtual discussion. Earlier, in 2014, Incepta Pharmaceuticals was allowed to invest outside the country. The company was supposed to form a joint-venture company in Estonia initially. But the approval is the only thing they got out of the effort because of tough conditions imposed by the government. Abdul Muktadir, chairman and managing director of Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd, said the Bangladesh Bank set 20-22 conditions for investment abroad. It is not possible to invest under those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted August 19, 2021 Elite Members Share Posted August 19, 2021 https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/light-engineering-lights-up-bangladeshs-export-hope-1629338958 Light engineering lights up Bangladesh's export hope FHM HUMAYAN KABIR | Published: August 19, 2021 08:09:18 | Updated: August 19, 2021 18:03:54 Bangladesh's light-engineering sector (LES) lights up trade hopes as it achieved nearly 81-per cent growth in shipments to overseas markets in the last fiscal year (FY), analysts say, as the country strives to enlarge its slim export basket. They said light-engineering, a hub for nearly 800,000 jobs, after meeting some 30 per cent of local demands, earned about half a billion US dollars in foreign exchange on average per annum. According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the Bangladeshi small and medium scale manufacturers exported US$529 million worth of engineering goods in the FY 2020-2021, posting an 80.60 per cent growth year on year. In the previous FY2020, the export of engineering products fetched $292.92 million, EPB data showed. Bangladesh has attained a very small pie of the global big export cake as its international market size is of a hefty $7 trillion, the analysts said Wednesday. Bangladesh mainly exports bicycle, electrical equipment, construction-related equipment and machinery, stone and brick crushers, spare parts for paper and cement mills, bicycle light fittings, cast-iron articles, carbon rods and automobile spares, train-and-rail-support equipment, marine spare parts and the like. A recent International Finance Corporation IFC study showed Bangladesh's LES has in its employment 600,000 people involved in 50,000 micro-enterprises and 10,000 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). President of Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association (BEIOA) Abdur Razzak told the FE that the export glory ricocheted in the FY2021 from three years of falling shipments. "We were hopeful about getting a boost in the coming days as the SMEs and micro-industries are trying hard to improve their enterprises into a modern one and produce quality products for the shipments," he added. An FE analysis has found the country's export of the engineering products in FY2017 was highest within a decade as Bangladesh earned a record amount of $688.84 million. But the shipments had faced a steep fall since the subsequent fiscal year with $355.97 million earned in FY2018, $341.3 million in FY2019 and $292.92 million in FY2020. But it again went on a rebound in FY2021 with its 80.60-per cent growth to $529 million, the EPB data show. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in January 2020 announced light engineering as the "product of the year" in an attempt to bring special attention onto the sector so that it increases the country's foreign-exchange reserves through the export of various goods. Afterwards, the industries ministry decided to set up light-engineering industrial parks in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Jashore, Bogura and Narsingdi to reach the growing domestic sector to its full potential. The micro enterprises and SMEs in the sector are now providing support to the country's industrial, agricultural and construction sectors through manufacturing a wide range of spare parts, castings, moulds and dices, oil-and gas-pipeline fittings and light machinery, BEIOA President Mr Razzaque said. Various electrical products such as sockets, cables and electrical fans are manufactured in the light-engineering sector with domestic suppliers accounting for 48 to 52 per cent of the country's demand, which previously used to be met with imports. The Business Promotion Council operating under the commerce ministry estimates that local light-engineering industries produce 3,815 types of machinery, spares and accessories. The BEIOA President said they were struggling with fund-and skilled-manpower shortages to upgrade the country's light-engineering sector, resulting in a lower export growth than a huge potential. "We want to modernize our enterprises. But we have lack of funds and manpower. Besides, we need the industrial park for flourishing as an international- standard industry in order to compete on the overseas market," he added. Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Research Director Dr Khandker Golam Moazzem also sees a huge untapped potential in Bangladesh for engineering- product shipments. "But its main obstacles are the absence of international-standard certification, skilled manpower, infrastructure and branding. When these problems will be overcome, the country's engineering products will emerge as another forex-earner, reducing dependency on RMG," he told the FE. Bangladesh should invite some international-standard enterprises like Korean Hyundai for investment aimed at transferring technical know-how, developing skilled manpower and building the country's image, the economist suggests. When asked, Director-General of Bangladesh Industrial Technical Assistance Centre (BITAC) Anwar Hossain Chowdhury told the FE that they had a lack of high-skilled and international-standard trainers at their place. "We are supplying lot of skilled manpower for the local light-engineering sectors. But we could not develop manpower up to the international standards due to the trainer shortage," he added. They have recently set up Tools and Technology Institute at BITAC which is helping the local SMEs to standardize their products. Gradually they plan to turn the institute into an international-standard body for certification and developing high-skilled manpower. Analysts said neighbouring India and Pakistan have already set up many industrial parks for light-engineering sector and earning billions of dollars every year. Since global market size of the light-engineering products is about $7 trillion and European and American markets had a duty-free access for Bangladesh, there are huge potentials for boosting its shipments through producing international-standard products, they observed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted August 23, 2021 Elite Members Share Posted August 23, 2021 https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/columns/exploiting-light-engineering-potential-1629648211 Exploiting light-engineering potential Shamsul Huq Zahid | Published: August 22, 2021 22:03:31 It is a well-known fact that the country has quite a number of sectors and subsectors that have huge export potential and what they need is necessary policy, financial and technological supports to bloom and fetch foreign exchange. The light-engineering industry (LEI) is a manufacturing subsector that truly holds the promise to be a major export earner. In the immediate-past financial year (FY2020-21), the LEI did prove it. The industry had done even better in FY 2017. In the last fiscal, the light-engineering exports fetched more than half a billion dollars. The amount was more---nearly US$700m---in FY 2017. The export revenues from the sub-sector, however, have always fluctuated, ranging between US$300m and US$500m. This highlights the fact that the LEI, despite having the potential, could not make much headway as far as the export market is concerned. The size of the global market of light-engineering products is estimated at US$7.0 trillion and Bangladesh's share has been highly insignificant in that. But sector insiders believe that a two-to threefold increase in export earnings by the LEI within the foreseeable future is possible only if entrepreneurs involved in the sector are genuinely serious about making their mark on the global market and the government is equally interested in extending all possible supports to the sub-sector. The LEI's importance does not remain confined to only export earnings. Its share in the GDP is estimated at 2.5 per cent. Naturally, with gradual expansion, its share would also go up. Moreover, it is one of the economic areas that can create substantial employment opportunities. The industry that meets nearly 30 per cent of local demand for light engineering products and earns half a billion US dollars from exports now employs an estimated 0.8 million people. It is no denying that the products that the Bangladesh LEI manufactures are more or less basic and technologically not highly advanced. The truth is micro-enterprises, numbering about 50,000 across the country, dominate the industry. The number of small and medium enterprises is around 10,000. These enterprises do neither have the financial means nor the manpower to venture into anything big or advanced. For decades, they have been using outdated machinery and low-skilled manpower. The only exceptions are bicycle and electrical goods manufacturing units. The micro-enterprises and SMEs have been supplying some goods to the country's industrial, agriculture and construction sectors. But these are mostly low-cost ones and meet only a small percentage of their requirements. There could be a sea-change in the LEI only if the enterprises now in business got finance and skilled manpower. Even if the authorities took the right measures to meet the need for finance, it would be hard to fulfil the second one. Skilled manpower is not available locally. Nor there has been an effort to develop the same. The existing technical institutions and the industry itself do not have the qualified trainers to create manpower that can produce modern and high-end light-engineering products. Export revenues are important, no doubt. But the country is heavily dependent on imports for light engineering products. It imports many basic and small tools, machinery and other products, mostly from China and India. For the LEI, it is not very difficult to produce those locally and save hard-earned foreign exchange. However, lately, there has been a wind of change. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in January 2020 declared light engineering 'the product of the year' to draw priority attention of the relevant people to the sub-sector. In line with the PM's emphasis, the industries ministry reportedly decided to set up light-engineering industrial parks in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Jeshore and Bogura. Such proactive moves on the part of the state are most welcome. But, prior to doing anything big, the government should offer all supports to the existing LE units, financially or otherwise. Since the PM's declaration, the world has experienced unprecedented havoc because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thousands of small and micro enterprises have gone out of business, a good number of them permanently. Many LE units are among those. It is difficult to say whether the affected enterprises have received any financial support from the government or not. Thus, the first and foremost job of the government will be to lend financial support to the LEI to help it regain strength. Then, there should be a well-knit strategy for developing the LEI keeping in view the demand for LE products both at home and abroad. Special measures need to be taken to create skilled manpower for the industry. Unless and until the second requirement is met, nothing will be in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted August 28, 2021 Elite Members Share Posted August 28, 2021 https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/bangladesh/bangladesh-in-a-geopolitical-juncture-with-promises-of-blue-economy-analysts-1630158025 Bangladesh in a geopolitical juncture with promises of blue economy: Analysts FE ONLINE REPORT | Published: August 28, 2021 19:40:25 | Updated: August 28, 2021 19:42:09 In the potential hotspot of great power rivalry and amid threats of civil war in the neighbourhood, Bangladesh needs to formulate a package of policies for pursuing economic interests utilising its sea outlet, suggests a panel of foreign policy analysis. They emphasise ‘preservation of peace’ in the Indo-Pacific region as a prerequisite for uninterrupted inter-state trading activities and consistent economic growth, saying Bangladesh is now an active player, which should maintain a balance in external relations. “The countries (including Bangladesh) need to focus on wise diplomacy and own capability… We’ve to do our best to pursue a rule-based maritime order,” Tanaka Akihiko, President of Japan’s National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, said at a virtual discussion on Saturday. He pointed out that Bangladesh should strengthen its manufacturing base for trade competitiveness and a deep sea port being constructed at Matarbari, Cox’s Bazar, would help increase its advantages. In a lecture on ‘Connectivity in the Bay of Bengal Area: Challenges and Options for Bangladesh’, Professor Tanaka reiterated Japan’s support to free and open Indo-Pacific region and expressed concern at the rise of China as an economic and military global power that has taken Belt and Road Initiative to widen its spheres of influence. Former foreign secretary of Bangladesh Shahidul Haque underlined the importance of non-confrontational status in the Indo-Pacific region, now considered the heart of geopolitics and global economic activities. He mentioned that Bangladesh and other countries are also in a critical geostrategic position in view of the volatile situation in Afghanistan and Myanmar with potential ramifications for others. Addressing Bangladesh’s concern at the Rohingya issue, the Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka Ito Naoki stated that Tokyo supports the repatriation of Myanmar as the solution to the crisis. However, Mr Shahidul Haquq, added, unlike the pre-colonial era, the countries of the region including Bangladesh have a different kind of maturity and capability to face the challenges at hand. Rivalry between the US and China in the Indo-Pacific region has become a strategic headache for the countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia in particular, the discussant said. In the ‘post-US’ Indo-Pacific, Mr Shahidul Haque said, there would be more than one power that would matter. “Bangladesh, at its 50, is also a player and an active player.” Professor Tanaka explained that for Bangladesh’s imports, China, India, Japan and ASEAN countries would remain important and for exports, the European Union and the US are still important. “It must be careful so that it does not fall into debt trap,” he said referring to growing economic engagement with China. Real Admiral (retired) Mohammad Khorshed Alam, who played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s maritime delimitation victory, said that Bangladesh is yet to fully exploit the potential of the blue economy in terms of trade, extraction of mineral resources and fishing in the Bay of Bengal. “It (blue economy) could be at least half the size of the garment export (value). We need to prepare a package (of policies and steps) to utilise the potential,” he expressed his views. He further shared his concern over drug, piracy, pollution and dumping of dead fish in the sea, apart from rivalry, and insisted that there is no alternative to rule-based maritime order. South Asian Institute of Policy at North South University and the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh jointly organised the discussion which was moderated by Dr M Jashim Uddin of the university. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted September 3, 2021 Elite Members Share Posted September 3, 2021 https://www.prothomalo.com/business/economics/ভারতে-যাচ্ছে-প্রাণ-সৌদিতে-নাসা বিদেশে বিনিয়োগ ভারতে যাচ্ছে প্রাণ, সৌদিতে নাসা ২০১৩ সাল থেকে বিদেশে বিনিয়োগের অনুমোদন শুরু হয়। যারা অনুমোদন পাচ্ছে তারা বেশি ভাগই রপ্তানিকারক। এর বাইরেও অনেকে অনুমোদন পাচ্ছে। সানাউল্লাহ সাকিব ঢাকা প্রকাশ: ৩১ আগস্ট ২০২১, ০৯: ৫২ সূত্র: বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংক বিদেশে বৈধভাবে বিনিয়োগের আগ্রহ বাড়ছে বাংলাদেশি উদ্যোক্তাদের। তাঁদের কেউ দেশীয় অভিজ্ঞতা কাজে লাগিয়ে বিদেশে ব্যবসা করতে চাইছেন। কেউবা কোন দেশে কোন ব্যবসা উপযোগী, অর্থাৎ চাহিদাকে প্রাধান্য দিয়ে বিনিয়োগ করছেন। এ ছাড়া আরও অনেকে ব্যবসার প্রয়োজনে বিদেশে অফিস, ছোট আকারের কারখানা গড়ে তুলছেন। এ জন্য তাঁরা সরকার ও বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের অনুমোদন নিয়েছেন। অনুমোদনের অপেক্ষায় আছে আরও অনেক উদ্যোক্তার আবেদন। সংশ্লিষ্ট বিভিন্ন পর্যায়ে কথা বলে জানা গেছে, যাঁদের উৎপাদিত পণ্য রপ্তানি হয়, তাঁদের অনেকেই এখন বিদেশে সম্পদ গড়ে তুলতে চান। অনেকে আবার অনুমোদন ছাড়াই বিদেশে অর্থ পাচার করে কোম্পানি খুলে ব্যবসা করছেন, বিপুল সম্পদ গড়ে তুলছেন। এখন তাঁরা বৈধ পথে টাকা নিয়ে বিদেশের ওই সব সম্পদ বৈধ করতে চান। তবে সব উদ্যোক্তা তা করছেন না। অনেক উদ্যোক্তা অনুমোদন নিয়েই বিদেশে বিনিয়োগ করতে যাচ্ছেন। বিদেশে বিনিয়োগের অনুমোদন পেয়েছে, এমন ব্যক্তি ও প্রতিষ্ঠানের সংখ্যা দাঁড়িয়েছে ১৭। এর মধ্যে ২০২০ সাল পর্যন্ত অনুমোদন পেয়েছে ১২ প্রতিষ্ঠান—মবিল যমুনা বাংলাদেশ, ইনসেপ্টা, ডিবিএল, স্কয়ার ফার্মা, স্পেকট্রাম ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিং, এএসএম মহিউদ্দিন মোনেম, আকিজ জুট, বেক্সিমকো ফার্মা, এসিআই হেলথকেয়ার, বিএসআরএম, সামিট পাওয়ার ও টেকআউট লিমিটেড। আর চলতি আগস্টে অনুমোদন পেয়েছে আরও পাঁচ কোম্পানি—এমবিএম গার্মেন্টস, রেনেটা, প্রাণ ফুডস, নাসা গ্রুপের এজে সুপার গার্মেন্টস ও ইনসেপ্টা ফার্মাসিউটিক্যালস। এর মধ্যে সর্বোচ্চ প্রায় ১৭০ কোটি টাকা বিনিয়োগের অনুমোদন পেয়েছে আকিজ জুট। তবে অনুমোদন পেলেও সবাই যে বিদেশে অর্থ নিয়ে গেছে, তা-ও নয়। বিনিয়োগের জন্য দেশি উদ্যোক্তাদের পছন্দের তালিকায় থাকা শীর্ষ দেশগুলো হচ্ছে সিঙ্গাপুর, কেনিয়া, মালয়েশিয়া, ভারত, শ্রীলঙ্কা ও সৌদি আরব। বিদেশে বিনিয়োগ করেছে, এমন একটি প্রতিষ্ঠানের কর্ণধার নাম প্রকাশ না করার শর্তে প্রথম আলোকে বলেন, বিদেশে সম্পদ ও বিনিয়োগ থাকাটা এখন সম্মানের বিষয় হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছে। পরবর্তী প্রজন্ম পড়াশোনা ও পরিবারের জন্য বিদেশে থাকে। তারা দেশের চেয়ে বিদেশে ব্যবসা করতে বেশি আগ্রহী। এ জন্য একরকম বাধ্য হয়ে অনেকে বিদেশে ব্যবসা করতে যাচ্ছেন। কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যাংকের অনুমোদন ছাড়া বিনিয়োগের উদ্দেশ্যে বিদেশে অর্থ নেওয়ার সুযোগ নেই। অবশ্য একজন রপ্তানিকারক ব্যবসা বাড়াতে অন্য দেশে লিয়াজোঁ বা সাবসিডিয়ারি অফিস খোলা ও ব্যয় নির্বাহের জন্য বছরে ৩০ হাজার ডলার পর্যন্ত নিতে পারেন। সেটা রপ্তানি করা অর্থ থেকে। আর ঋণপত্র (এলসি) খুলে যেকোনো পরিমাণে বৈধ পণ্য আমদানি করা, ভ্রমণ কোটায় বছরে সর্বোচ্চ ১২ হাজার ডলার খরচ করা যায়। এ ছাড়া শিক্ষা, চিকিৎসাসহ সুনির্দিষ্ট কয়েকটি খাতে বৈধ উপায়ে নির্দিষ্ট পরিমাণ অর্থ নেওয়ার সুযোগ আছে। ২০১২ সাল পর্যন্ত বেশ কয়েকটি প্রতিষ্ঠান বিদেশে বিনিয়োগের আবেদন জানালেও তা নাকচ করে দেওয়া হয়। পরে ২০১৩ সাল থেকে বিশেষ বিবেচনায় অনুমোদন দেওয়া শুরু করে কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যাংক। এদের মধ্যে বেশির ভাগই রপ্তানি করা আয় থেকে বিনিয়োগ করে, আবার দেশ থেকেও ডলার নেয় কেউ কেউ। কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যাংকের তথ্য অনুযায়ী অনুমোদন পাওয়া কোম্পানিগুলোর মধ্যে মবিল যমুনা মিয়ানমারে ৪ লাখ ৪০ হাজার ডলার ও সিঙ্গাপুরে ১ লাখ মার্কিন ডলার; ডিবিএল গ্রুপ ইথিওপিয়ায় ৯৫ লাখ ডলার; স্কয়ার ফার্মা কেনিয়ায় ১ কোটি ডলার; আকিজ জুট মালয়েশিয়ায় ২ কোটি ডলার বিনিয়োগ করেছে। বেক্সিমকো ফার্মা সৌদি আরবের জুবাইল ফার্মায় (সাবেক বেক্সিমকো ফার্মা সৌদি আরব), মালয়েশিয়ার বায়োকেয়ার ম্যানুফ্যাকচারিং ও শ্রীলঙ্কায় বিনিয়োগের জন্য নতুন কোম্পানি খুলেছে বেক্সিমকো। যার নাম বেক্সিমকো ফার্মা সিলন। নতুন সেই কোম্পানিতে বিনিয়োগের অনুমোদন পেলেও এখনো কোনো অর্থ নেয়নি তারা। ওষুধের ব্যবসায় ৬০ লাখ ডলার বিনিয়োগের অনুমোদন পেয়েছিল বেক্সিমকো। বিএসআরএম কেনিয়ায় ৪৬ লাখ ডলার নেওয়ার অনুমোদন পেলেও নিয়েছে ২৭ হাজার ২০০ ডলার। নতুন অনুমোদন পাওয়া প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোর মধ্যে প্রাণ ফুডস ভারতের পিনাকল ফোরএস কোম্পানিতে ২০ লাখ ৬২ হাজার ৬৬৫ ডলার বিনিয়োগ করবে। প্রতি ডলারের বিনিময়মূল্য ৮৫ টাকা ধরে হিসাব করলে স্থানীয় মুদ্রায় যার পরিমাণ দাঁড়ায় প্রায় নাড়ে ১৭ কোটি টাকায়। তারা বিনিয়োগ করছে খাদ্য উৎপাদন কারখানায়। নাসা গ্রুপের প্রতিষ্ঠান এজে সুপার গার্মেন্টস সৌদি আরবে সিটি অব ড্রিমস ফর ডেটস কোম্পানির খেজুরের ব্যবসায় ৫০ লাখ ডলার বা সাড়ে ৪২ কোটি টাকা বিনিয়োগ করবে। ইনসেপ্টা ফার্মা ১ লাখ ডলার বা ৮৫ লাখ টাকা বিনিয়োগ করবে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের ইনসেপ্টা ফার্মা ইউএসএতে। এ ছাড়া এমবিএম গার্মেন্টস সিঙ্গাপুরের এমবিএম সিঙ্গাপুরে ও রেনেটা ফার্মা আয়ারল্যান্ডের রেনেটা ফার্মাতে এক লাখ ডলার করে বিনিয়োগের অনুমতি নিয়েছে। এদিকে বিদেশে বিনিয়োগ করে প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোর মুনাফা নাকি লোকসান হচ্ছে, সেই তথ্য বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকে নেই। ফলে এসব প্রতিষ্ঠানের বিনিয়োগের ওপর নিয়ন্ত্রক সংস্থাটির কোনো তদারকিও নেই। জানতে চাইলে কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যাংকের মুখপাত্র সিরাজুল ইসলাম প্রথম আলোকে বলেন, ‘বিদেশে বিনিয়োগ করে দেশের একটি প্রতিষ্ঠান সামান্য কিছু মুনাফা এনেছে। এর বাইরে আর কেউ কিছু জানায়নি। তাই আমরা সরকারের সঙ্গে পরামর্শ করে যাচাই-বাছাই করে বিদেশে বিনিয়োগের অনুমোদন দিচ্ছি।’ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted September 9, 2021 Elite Members Share Posted September 9, 2021 https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/bn/পোশাক-রপ্তানিতে-ভিয়েতনামের-চেয়ে-দুই-বিলিয়ন-ডলার-এগিয়ে-বাংলাদেশ-1631203024 পোশাক রপ্তানিতে ভিয়েতনামের চেয়ে দুই বিলিয়ন ডলার এগিয়ে বাংলাদেশ Published: September 09, 2021 21:57:04 মহামারীর প্রথম ধাক্কায় বিশ্ববাজারে পোশাক রপ্তানিতে নিজেদের দ্বিতীয় অবস্থান হারালেও তা ফিরে পাওয়ার ধারায় ফিরে এসেছে বাংলাদেশ। সম্প্রতি দেশের পোশাক রপ্তানিকারকদের সংগঠন বিজিএমইএ যে তথ্য প্রকাশ করেছে তাতে দেখা যায়, বছরের প্রথম ছয় মাস শেষে নিকটতম প্রতিদ্বন্দ্বী ভিয়েতনামের চেয়ে পোশাক রপ্তানিতে প্রায় দুই বিলিয়ন ডলার এগিয়ে আছে বাংলাদেশ, খবর বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকমের। বিজিএমইএর গবেষণা শাখা থেকে প্রকাশিত বাংলাদেশ ও ভিয়েতনামের তুলনামূলক চিত্রে দেখা যায়, চলতি বছরে জুলাই মাস পর্যন্ত ১৮ দশমিক ৮০০ বিলিয়ন ডলারের পোশাক পণ্য রপ্তানি করেছে বাংলাদেশ। এই সময়ে ভিয়েতনামের রপ্তানির পরিমাণ ১৬ দশমিক ৮৬১ বিলিয়ন ডলার। অর্থাৎ এরই মধ্যে ভিয়েতনামের চেয়ে ২ বিলিয়ন ডলার এগিয়ে গেছে বাংলাদেশ। রপ্তানিকারকরা বলছেন, প্রধান রপ্তানিবাজার ইউরোপ ও আমেরিকার দেশগুলোতে মহামারী স্বাভাবিক হতে শুরু করায় বাংলাদেশে ক্রয়াদেশও বেড়েছে। এই ধারা চললে বছর শেষে প্রতিদ্বন্দ্বী ভিয়েতনামকে টপকে যাওয়া যাবে। বিজিএমইএর পরিচালক ও জনসংযোগ কমিটির চেয়ারম্যান মহিউদ্দিন রুবেল বলেন, “এখন আপাতত দুই বিলিয়ন ডলার এগিয়ে থাকতে দেখা গেলেও প্রকৃত অর্থে এটা আরও বেশি হবে। কারণ ভিয়েতনাম তাদের পোশাক ও টেক্সটাইল সেক্টর মিলিয়ে তথ্য প্রকাশ করে। আমরা বাংলাদেশের ক্ষেত্রে শুধু পোশাক রপ্তানির কথা বলছি। আমাদের টেক্সটাইল সেক্টরের অন্যান্য পণ্যের রপ্তানি তথ্য যোগ করে বললে অংকটা অনেক বড় হবে।” বিজিএমইএ সহসভাপতি শহীদুল্লাহ আজিম বলেন, “চলতি পঞ্জিকা বছর শেষে ডব্লিউটিওর প্রতিবেদন বাংলাদেশের পক্ষেই আসবে। “এখন বছরের মাঝামাঝি সময়ে দুই বিলিয়ন ডলার এগিয়ে আছে। বছর শেষে সেটা ৪ বিলিয়নেরও বেশি ছাড়িয়ে যাবে। কারণ, পোশাক খাতে এখন প্রচার অর্ডার রয়েছে। আগামী কয়েক মাসের মধ্যে এর প্রতিফলন দেখা যাবে বলে মনে করি।” তৈরি পোশাক রপ্তানিতে বিশ্বে বরাবরই শীর্ষে রয়েছে চীন। এক দশক আগে বাংলাদেশ দ্বিতীয় স্থানে উঠে এলেও করোনাভাইরাস মহামারীর ধাক্কায় গত বছর বাংলাদেশকে টপকে দ্বিতীয় স্থানে উঠে যায় ভিয়েতনাম। বিশ্ব বাণিজ্য সংস্থা-ডব্লিউটিওর ‘ওয়ার্ল্ড ট্রেড স্ট্যাটিসটিক্যাল রিভিউ’তে দেখা যায়, ২০২০ সালে বিশ্ববাজারে পোশাক রপ্তানিতে বাংলাদেশের অবস্থান তিন নম্বরে। প্রতিবেদনের তথ্য অনুযায়ী, ২০২০ সালে ১৪২ বিলিয়ন ডলারের পোশাকপণ্য রপ্তানি করে প্রথম অবস্থানে ছিল চীন। বিশ্ববাজারে তাদের অংশীদারিত্ব ৩১ দশমিক ৬ শতাংশ। দ্বিতীয় অবস্থানে উঠে আসা ভিয়েতনামের রপ্তানির পরিমাণ ছিল ২৯ বিলিয়ন ডলার; বিশ্ববাজারে অংশীদারিত্ব ৬ দশমিক ৪ শতাংশ, যা আগের বছর ছিল ৬ দশমিক ২ শতাংশ। আর গতবছর বাংলাদেশ ২৮ বিলিয়ন ডলারের পোশাক রপ্তানি করে; মোট বিশ্ব রপ্তানিতে অংশ ৬ দশমিক ৩ শতাংশ, যা আগের বছর ছিল ৬ দশমিক ৮ শতাংশ। ২০১০ সালে তৈরি পোশাকের বিশ্ব রপ্তানি বাজারে ৪ দশমিক ২ শতাংশ অংশীদারিত্ব অর্জন করে তুরস্ককে পেছনে ফেলে দ্বিতীয় অবস্থানে এসেছিল বাংলাদেশ। এরপর থেকে এই অবস্থানেই ছিল। তখন তুরস্কের অবস্থান ছিল ৩, ভারতের অবস্থান ছিল ৪। ওই সময় বিশ্ববাজারে ভিয়েতনামের অবস্থান ছিল তাদের পেছনে। কিন্তু করোনাভাইরাস মহামারীর শুরুতে বিশ্বের অর্থনীতি স্থবির হয়ে পড়ায় গত বছরের এপ্রিলে বাংলাদেশের রপ্তানি আয় তলানিতে গিয়ে ঠেকে। তাতে ভিয়েতনাম পেছন থেকে উঠে এসে বাংলাদেশকে ছাড়িয়ে যায়। তবে এরপর ধীরে ধীরে বাড়তে থাকে বাংলাদেশের পোশাক রপ্তানি। Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted September 12, 2021 Elite Members Share Posted September 12, 2021 https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/bangladesh-plastics-aim-global-market-pie-301183 Abbas Uddin Noyon & Foisal Ahmed 11 September, 2021, 11:45 pm Last modified: 12 September, 2021, 09:37 am Bangladesh plastics aim at global market pie Entrepreneurs in the sector want to raise their share in the global market from .5% at present to 3% by 2030. The current size of the global plastic market is $570 billion and is growing at an average annual rate of 20% The plastic industry sees huge potentials for growth in sales both in local and global markets, attracting new investments even during the pandemic. In recent months, at least two companies either invested or announced plans to put over Tk650 crore into the plastic industry that hopes to secure 3% of the global market by 2030. Entrepreneurs in the sector now cater to more than 80% of the local demand with annual domestic sales of over Tk28,000 crore. The current size of the global plastic market is $570 billion (Tk47,88,000 crore) and is growing at an average annual rate of 20%. Industry insiders said Bangladesh's yearly earnings from the export of plastic products has already surpassed Tk1,000 crore, although the country currently holds a paltry 0.5% share in the global market. They, however, have expressed optimism that the annual growth in exports earnings will soon cross 25%. Citing Grand View Research, Shamim Ahmed, president of the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Export Association (BPGMEA), said the global plastic market is poised to reach $721 billion in 2025. "If Bangladesh can capture 1% of the market, it is possible to export products worth more than Tk6,000 crore every year," he added. Plastic products manufactured in the country include packets of life-saving drugs, injection syringes, blood collection bags, hangers and packets in readymade garments industry, different crockeries products, doors, windows, sanitary products, electrical appliances, computer parts, telephone sets and varieties of toys. China is currently the leading player in the global plastic market with 26.8% share and earning $21.4 billion, followed by Germany that holds 12% of the global market share, according to a report of World's Top Exports. Shamim Ahmed said, "Demand for our products is rising in the international market as many countries are now trying to decrease dependency on China." "We have around 250 export-oriented-factories," he said, adding, "Many other small factories have full potential but cannot export due to a lack of capacity, and the BPGMEA is working to address the issue." Alongside increasing exports, the BPGMEA is also expecting a 20% yearly growth in domestic sales. The trade body hopes the per capita consumption of plastic goods in the country will reach 35 kg by 2030, which currently stands at 9 kg. "There was some misinformation about plastic and the government took different whimsical decisions several times on plastic restriction which made our path tougher," said Shamim Ahmed. About sustainability, he said, relocating all the factories to a cluster is crucial for achieving our goal. "Although, earlier the government had planned to set up a chemical zone where we might be given 100 acres of land," said the BPGMEA president. Plastic industry in Bangladesh According to the sector insiders, modern plastic products made in Bangladesh are of international standard. The use of plastic is increasing in Bangladesh in line with the international market. According to government data, global demand for plastic products has been growing at a rate of 20% since 2007. Average global use of plastic is 50 kg per capita. In the United States, the rate is 109 kg per capita, in China 38 kg and in India 11 kg. Per capita consumption of plastic in Bangladesh is only 9 kg. As a result, there is a huge potential in this market. Chowdhury Kamruzzaman Kamal, director (marketing) of Pran RFL Group, a big name in the plastics sector in the country, said, "The global experience suggests that the use of plastic products is increasing parallelly with the development of the country. The use of plastic in household products grew by 10% and in general products by more than 20%." He said, "The country's GDP is increasing as well as our purchasing power. The use of plastic and packaging materials is also increasing. The plastic industry as a whole is an environmentally friendly industry considering the production and recycling process. As a result, the market for this product will also increase." Currently, there are 5,030 plastic factories in the country and 98% of them belong to the small and medium entrepreneurs, according to Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA). Industry insiders said that the total investment in this sector is around Tk20,550 crore. The annual sales of plastic products is around Tk28,000 crore in the local market, in which the sales of PVC pipe is more than Tk6,000 crore and household items account nearly Tk3,000 crore, BIDA reported. Besides, currently, this sector contributes around 1% of the GDP and the industry provides around Tk3,500 crore in tax annually. Around 15 lakh people are involved in this sector. Jasim Uddin, former president of BPGMEA, said, "We are not getting skilled manpower as there is no institution for human resource development in the plastic industry." New investments Pran RFL Group, the country's top plastic manufacturer, has announced new investments in the plastic sector amid the Covid-19 pandemic. In September 2020, the company announced an investment of Tk154 crore in the export of personal protective equipment, medical equipment and toys made of plastic. Banga Plastic International, a subsidiary of the group, in a new factory set up in the Adamjee Export Processing Zone will produce 850 tonnes of medical safety equipment including surgical face mask, KN95 mask, N95 mask, surgical gloves, shoe covers, MOP caps, sanitary napkins, diapers and hand sanitisers along with 9,000 tonnes of toys annually. N Mohammad Plastic Industry has announced a bigger investment than RFL. In early August, they signed an agreement with the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) announcing an investment of Tk500 crore. Mohammad Nazrul Hoque, managing director of N Mohammad Plastic Industry, said that their factory set up in Bangabandhu Industrial City will create employment opportunities for around 1,600 people. People concerned said some other companies are also awaiting investment in this sector. Industry friendly policy The ministry of industry has published National Plastic Industry Development Policy 2020 (7th draft) to develop the country's plastic sector. According to the ministry officials, the government is formulating the policy considering the existing obstacles and adversities in the development of the plastic industry. In the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the policy has considered both local and international markets in its commitment to build an environmentally friendly plastic industry. The authorities have started to discuss with organisations concerned on developing skilled manpower, attracting foreign investment, ensuring technological advancement and the overall development of the industry, the officials said. Md Golam Yahia, additional secretary (planning) of the ministry of industry, said, "The policy aims at the development of the plastic industry. It has emphasised on environmental and other compliances for the overall development of the sector." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted October 10, 2021 Elite Members Share Posted October 10, 2021 https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/rmg/diversification-makes-them-stronger-313672 Reyad Hossain & Jasim Uddin 09 October, 2021, 11:20 pm Last modified: 10 October, 2021, 09:43 am Diversification makes them stronger About 100 apparel makers have expanded their business into other sectors and shone there too Diversify or die — thus goes a warning to businesspersons against standing in the same place for too long. Acting on this nugget of business wisdom, many Bangladeshi apparel entrepreneurs have ventured into such diversified businesses like housing, hospital, ceramic tiles, and even power generation in the last four decades. Such strategic business decisions have helped them grow bigger and stronger over time as they chose not to keep all their eggs in one basket. Envoy Group Chairman Kutubuddin Ahmed explains why he has ventured into the real-estate business: "Our philosophy was to support another business if one faces any trouble." To MA Rahim Feroz, vice chairman of garment maker DBL Group that has made a foray into pharma business, diversification is a means to sustain business growth. Mohammadi Group says it stepped into information technology and power generation responding to the needs of the time. But the case was different for Shanta Group, which has washed its hands off the garment business as it felt that it had done enough in apparels and has more to do in education and health to improve quality of life. Here are the stories of some big names in readymade garments who made their mark in other businesses too. According to sector insiders, about 100 companies from this sector have diversified their business into other sectors, and some of them have achieved enviable success. Envoy Group After its inception in 1984, Envoy Group had just a small factory that would do Tk7 lakh business per month. Now the number of its factories has risen to 15, making the company one of the largest garment exporters in the country. Envoy Group has expanded dramatically over the past three decades with primary focus on ready-made garments and textile manufacturing and most recently textile division. Envoy Textiles Ltd has become the world's first platinum certified denim textile mill. Besides the garments and textiles, the group has diversified its business into other sectors such as washing plant, healthcare, banking, financial institution, banking automation, local and international trading, freight forwarding, information technology, energy and power sector, and consumer products. Now the group represents about 40 business enterprises with an annual turnover of $400 million and a workforce of about 21,000 people. "To start new business beyond RMG, our philosophy was to support other businesses if one faces any trouble," said Kutubuddin Ahmed, chairman of Envoy Group and Sheltech Group. Four years after the inception of Envoy's garment manufacturing unit, the group in 1988 established real-estate venture Sheltech Ltd aiming to provide quality living in Dhaka. Since then, Sheltech has constructed over 3800 residential and commercial units all around the capital. "Now Sheltech is a separate group that holds 17 business enterprises with local sales of around Tk1,400 crore annually," said Tanvir Ahmed, managing director of Sheltech Group, and also a director of Envoy Group. Another major focus of Sheltech is the service sector as we now employ about 2,000 people, he added. Sheltech Group's operations include real-estate development, industrial construction, tiles manufacturing, pole manufacturing, ceramic tiles making, abrasive paper manufacturing, urban area planning and stock brokerage. "Now Sheltech is one of the largest manufacturers in the premium category ceramic floor and wall tiles industry," said Kutubuddin Ahmed. Bengal Meat Processing Industry is also associated with Sheltech and Envoy Group that is an export oriented world class meat industry with retail presence all over Bangladesh. "We are a proud partner of Square Hospitals Limited and the leading contributor of private healthcare services in Bangladesh," said Abdus Salam Murshedy, a director of Square Hospital, who is a member of parliament and managing director of Envoy group, and a director of Premier Bank. Ha-Meem group Garment manufacturer Ha-Meem Group started the journey in the early 1980s. AK Azad, the head of the company, started diversifying his business in the 1990s. He expanded the businesses into printing, embroidery, washing, labels, poly and packaging, carton, belt and tape, shipping, TV channel, newspapers and tea gardens. With more than 60,000 employees and diversified businesses, Ha-Meem's newspaper Daily Samakal and television Channel Channel24 also hold a strong position in the media industry. However, despite diversifying the business, garment and textile still remain in the main focus of Ha-Meem — the highest woven exporter of Bangladesh. DBL Group Dulal Brothers Limited (DBL) is one of the largest garment exporters in the country. After its inception in 1991, the company has expanded its business into other sectors including textiles, textile printing, washing, garments accessories, packaging, ceramic tiles, pharmaceuticals, dredging, semiconductor design, ICT, and telecommunications. The company, which started with only 300 workers two decades ago, now has about 40,000 employees. The turnover of DBL Group in the 2018-19 fiscal year was around $600 million. However, the main business of the group is still ready-made garments. Around 30,000 employees of the group work in the garment sector and the remaining are in other industries. DBL Group is marketing the products of the famous German brand Puma in Bangladesh. After Banani, the second outlet of Puma has started business in Dhanmondi last week. The group is the sponsor of a BPL team — the country's most popular T20 cricket show. The group has invested in pharmaceutical business under the name of DBL Pharmaceuticals, which will start marketing from next November. The group has also been successful in investing in ceramics, telecommunications, garment accessories and textiles. MA Rahim Feroz, vice chairman of DBL Group told The Business standard, "Businesses should be diversified to make them sustainable since the clothing business will not always be good. There is a need to keep a second option," he told The Business Standard. Team Group Team Group started its journey in 2009 with a lone garment factory. Now it is a family of over 18,000 employees at its 12 units. It has diversified business in sourcing, pharmaceuticals, IT, real-estate and local retails. Team Sourcing, the largest buying house of the country that has business with over 100 garment factories, is fully owned by the group. Team Pharmaceuticals Limited has already curved out its niche in the market within only four years of its establishment. Intellier Limited, which is the IT concern of the Team Group, provides software and hardware solutions including cloud integration, migration and ERP services, while the Team Developers Limited has secured a unique position in the real-estate industry for its eco-friendly architectural designs. The group has also created a local fashion brand "Twelve". After starting its journey in 2012, Twelve rapidly expanded its operation across Bangladesh. The clothing brand has its stores at 27 locations all over Bangladesh. Apart from physical stores, Twelve also sells fashionable dresses for all ages through its e-commerce site and facebook-based store. In the last year, the group's turnover was $360 million as it plans to reach the $1 billion turnover-mark by the next five years. It will also start a new denim factory with zero discharge washing plant at the end of 2022. Team Group Managing Director Abdullah Hil Rakib said, "My business model is very simple. I train my employees and try to empower them. Once they are empowered, they take the lead in operating the businesses." "Our diversification approach comes from the trading concept that helps build a balanced business," he added. Pacific Jeans Limited Pacific Jeans Limited is the largest denim garment exporter of the country with $450 million annual export from its five units. Recently, the company has introduced a knit composite factory to meet the growing demand of active wear in the global market. Besides, the group is also waiting to launch a five-star hotel with Marriott, in Chattogram. In 1984, the group started the journey with a garment factory and only 200 employees. Currently, it employs 31,000 people. Two entities of Pacific Jeans — Universal Jeans Limited and Pacific Jeans Limited — have been winning gold and silver national export trophies for the last couple of years. "Through business diversification we want to diversify our export basket. We invested in a knit unit as Bangladesh lags behind in active wear," said Syed M Tanvir, managing director of Pacific Jeans. "A number of mega projects including the Mirsarai Economic Zone are going on in Chattogram. But the city still lags behind in the hospitality sector. That is why we are investing in this sector. I hope that global brand Marriott would also help branding the city," he added. Mohammadi Group Mohammadi Group started its garment business in 1986, at the beginning of the garment sector in Bangladesh. The entrepreneurs Anisul Haq, Habib Rahman and Faruk-Al-Nasir quit their jobs at Desh Garments and started exporting garments on their own. Mohammadi Group is currently owned by the family of the late Anisul Haq. Anisul Haq, the founder of the company, became the mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation after leading the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries. He died while serving as mayor. His wife and children are now currently looking after his business. The group started business diversification in the late 1990s. It diversified over the years and excelled in real-estate, power generation, information technology, media and entertainment. The company's latest endeavour Nagorik Television launched in March 2018. Mohammadi Group started its journey with only 52 workers, and now has 10,000 employees. The company first started diversifying outside the garment sector in 1999 through an information technology business named Technovista. It then expanded to other sectors. It has invested Tk2,000 crore in power generation. Mohammadi Group now has investments in 21 sectors. Navidul Haq, managing director of Mohammadi Group, told The Business Standard, "When discussions began in the 1990s to lift the quota system in Bangladesh's garment exports, my father [Anisul Haq] wondered what could be done. It would not be right to keep all the eggs in one basket, he thought. That's when business diversification began, through investing in the IT sector. That is followed by a gradual investment in housing and power." Navidul Haq said, "We considered investment in the power sector in 2007-08 when there was a power shortage in the country. But now many have invested in this sector. We have investment plans for renewable energy in the future. Apart from this, we do not have any need to invest in any new sector. We want to do healthy business in the sectors in which we have already invested." Shanta Holdings Ltd After starting with Shanta Garments in 1986, the group started diversifying its business in the late 90's. Khondoker Monir Uddin, the head of the group, has invested in housing, health and education sectors. Now, the group does not have any garment factory as it has sold all the garment units one by one. Shanta Group has merged with Tropica Group and Sepal Group to form STS Group. This group owns Evercare Hospital Dhaka (Apollo Hospitals Dhaka), International School Dhaka (ISD) and the Delhi Public Schools. Sepal Group also started its business with RMG, led by the present Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi. Under Shanta Holdings Ltd, there are companies such as GDS Chemical Bangladesh Ltd, Shanta Securities Ltd and Shanta Asset Management Ltd. Khondoker Monir Uddin has investments in Dhaka Bank too. Khondoker Monir, his son and daughter take care of the businesses. Saif Khondoker, director of Shanta Holdings Ltd, said, "We achieved a lot with RMG. But it is more stressful. And my father always wanted to be involved in business related to quality living. That is why he has focused on health, education and housing. He built a world class hospital [now Evercare] for the first time with the aim of providing world class healthcare in Bangladesh." "The same goes for education and real-estate. Shanta Holdings Ltd has already handed over 30 projects, with 25 more ongoing. We would expand our businesses more in future," he added. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted October 15, 2021 Elite Members Share Posted October 15, 2021 https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/bangladeshs-gdp-surpass-denmark-singapore-hong-kong-2025-315460 Mohsin Bhuiyan & Tarif Tahmeed Khan 13 October, 2021, 09:25 pm Last modified: 14 October, 2021, 11:50 am Bangladesh’s GDP to surpass those of Denmark, Singapore, Hong Kong by 2025 The country’s GDP is expected to cross the $500 billion mark in FY25 Bangladesh's economy is projected to reach $516.24 billion in the fiscal 2024-25, outperforming advanced economies such as Denmark, Singapore and Hong Kong along the way, says the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Denmark is expected to have a GDP of $484.38 billion at the current dollar value in 2025, while Singapore and Hong Kong will see their economies reach $461.51 billion and $452.10 billion, respectively. The forecast was revealed in the IMF's World Economic Outlook database on Tuesday. Approaching a $500 billion+ economy, Bangladesh would also surpass Norway ($497.55 billion), the Philippines ($506.66 billion) and even the oil-rich United Arab Emirates ($480.03 billion) by 2025. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Bangladesh's GDP was $355 billion in FY21, up from $323 billion in the previous fiscal year. Meanwhile, the IMF forecasted 6.54% real GDP growth for Bangladesh in the current fiscal year, which is expected to reach 7.2% in FY25. Dr Zahid Hussain, former lead economist of the World Bank's Dhaka office, told The Business Standard, "These comparisons would only hold significance if we consider the overall economy as a market." He said, "But if we want to know the real impact of this achievement and assess what would change in terms of employment generation, poverty, economic inclusion and so on, it has to be done on a per capita basis." He further said, "Unless the effect of this growth trickles down to the larger portion of the population, it would not be inclusive. "Industries inclined towards technology and capital-intensive production may benefit, but whether firms with larger labour forces will be included in this achievement is questionable." With a current population of nearly 17 crore, Bangladesh's GDP per capita is projected to hit $2,994.46 in 2025, while Norway and Denmark will have a much higher GDP per capita, at $89,679.84 and $81,950.18, respectively. Singapore and Hong Kong's GDP per capita will reach $79,169.49 and $59,126.85, respectively. South Asian economies in 2025 South Asia's largest economy, India is projected to have a GDP of $4,084.69 billion in 2025. Bangladesh has been the second-largest economy in the region since 2019 and it will continue to hold that position till 2025. But in terms of GDP per capita, Bangladesh has already overtaken India in 2020 and will keep its position to reach $2,994.46 in FY25, while India's per capita GDP is slated to grow to $2,829.65. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's GDP is expected to reach $101.44 billion in 2025, followed by Nepal ($45.83 billion), and Maldives ($7.03 billion). Bhutan, on the other hand, would remain at the bottom with a GDP of $3.62 billion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted October 15, 2021 Elite Members Share Posted October 15, 2021 https://www.tbsnews.net/features/panorama/bangladesh-surpass-few-developed-economies-gdp-it-really-big-deal-316168#.YWklkmwysEs.facebook Readus Salehen Jawad 15 October, 2021, 12:50 pm Last modified: 15 October, 2021, 12:53 pm Bangladesh to surpass a few developed economies in GDP. But is it really a big deal? Bangladesh’s GDP is projected to surpass those of Denmark, Norway, Singapore and a few others by 2025. While it may be presented as a great achievement, there is much more to the story than what the naked eye sees The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) latest update on the World Economic Outlook database has put Bangladesh on the path to become a $500 billion economy by 2024-25. On its way, the nation is projected to outperform developed economies like Denmark, Norway, Singapore and Hong Kong. While it may be presented as a great achievement, there is more to the story than what the naked eye sees. Gross domestic product (GDP) is an important indicator of an economy. But it is not the be-all-and-end-all of economic indicators. There are more important economic indicators such as, per capita GDP as well as the Human Development Index which must be taken into account to get a more holistic picture of the economy. To put it simply, GDP is the total monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country's borders during a specific period, usually a year. The indicator was created by British economist John Maynard Keynes to assess Britain's wartime production. It was specifically designed to measure the production capabilities and growth in an economy. It is not and should not be regarded as an indicator of the economic prosperity and social well-being of a country's citizens. To understand the effect of GDP on actual human lives, we can look at another indicator called GDP per capita or income per capita. This is derived by dividing a nation's GDP by its total population. It provides a rough estimate of how the GDP will be distributed among the people of a nation. Bangladesh's current GDP per capita stands at $2,138 which is higher than India. But the countries Bangladesh is supposed to overcome, in terms of GDP, have and will continue to have a much higher per capita income than Bangladesh. For example, Denmark currently has a per capita GDP of $67,919 which will increase to $81,950 by 2025. Bangladesh's per capita income is also set to grow, but it will barely reach the $3,000 mark. By contrast, Norwegians will enjoy a per capita income of $89,679 by 2025. Even Bhutan, the country which is set to have the lowest GDP among all south Asian countries will enjoy a higher per capita GDP of $4,626 at the same time. Norway and Denmark have a population of 5,475,439 and 5,818,294 respectively. But even their combined population is almost 15 times smaller than the population of Bangladesh. As a result, even when Bangladesh will cross them in overall GDP, it will not be possible to cross them based on GDP per capita. Bangladesh will also not be able to compete with these countries based on the standards of living. According to World Population Review, Denmark ranks first among all countries based on the quality of life while Norway is at 11th and Singapore is at 34th. Bangladesh, meanwhile, is in the 81st position. Bangladesh also lags behind these countries when it comes to human development. According to the Human Development Index, published by the UN Development Programme, Norway ranks first in the world in human development while Hong Kong and Denmark rank fourth and 10th respectively. Singapore is close behind them at the 11th position. Bangladesh, on the other hand, is in the 133rd position. While children in the aforesaid four countries enjoy, on average, 12.35 years of schooling, Bangladeshi children only get to enjoy 6.2 years. These countries also have higher per capita Gross National Income (GNI). Singapore, for example, has the per capita GNI of $88,155 while Bangladesh has $4,976. Dr MM Akash, the chairman of the Department of Economics at the university of Dhaka believes these forecasts can be wrong. "If we just extend the linear graph without taking important factors into consideration," he said, "then this will just be a mechanical prediction. We have to take a more holistic approach when it comes to predicting economic growth". His assessment certainly is true, especially for countries like Bangladesh. According to the World Bank, advanced economies will deviate from pre-pandemic projections by only -0.1% while low income countries like Bangladesh are expected to deviate by almost -5%. If our current rate of growth is continued, Bangladesh perhaps will be able to achieve the milestone. But that will not mean a drastic improvement in people's lives. Dr Akash said, "We are currently experiencing jobless growth, where investments are being made in capital intensive sectors but a huge number of workers are struggling to find work. If capital is not invested efficiently to create more employment opportunities, common people will not be able to reap the rewards". It will be an imbalanced growth. Our human resource does have the potential to create more economic prosperity in the future. But that will require a nurturing environment. "We have to ensure food security, quality public education and rule of law", explained Dr Akash. "Even though we have made strides in food security, the latter two are still not up to global standards. We have to provide education which will allow skilled addition to the labour force". Reaching the $500 billion mark may appear as an accomplishment worth celebrating. But the main goal of the economy is to create welfare for the people. We have to ensure inclusivity and accountability which will allow everyone to benefit from the nation's burgeoning economy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted December 15, 2021 Elite Members Share Posted December 15, 2021 https://scontent.fdac14-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/267761282_4668572256524020_7694288050702477231_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_eui2=AeHgyTIaldHUt_3ND9GAnsjS5SOBsPQ7KNPlI4Gw9Dso03HKfswMWjePS4aCN3WAmg8PAK_eB9DKtevvJyok0nYo&_nc_ohc=IzbS19njAhUAX8_yzXM&_nc_ht=scontent.fdac14-1.fna&oh=00_AT8V0G2E-Bn_rS-ZjdxecKhyKjSrUnxBDVo2l-_phV8VIw&oe=61BE3E8C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted December 17, 2021 Elite Members Share Posted December 17, 2021 https://bonikbarta.net/home/news_description/283610/বাংলাদেশ-থেকে-যুক্তরাষ্ট্রে-কটনভিত্তিক-পোশাকের-আমদানি-বেড়েছে-২৬.৭০ জানুয়ারি-অক্টোবর বাংলাদেশ থেকে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রে কটনভিত্তিক পোশাকের আমদানি বেড়েছে ২৬.৭০% নিজস্ব প্রতিবেদক ডিসেম্বর ১৭, ২০২১ https://bonikbarta.net/uploads/news_image/news_283610_1.jpg?t=1639744594 বাংলাদেশের মোট রফতানির সিংহভাগজুড়ে থাকে তৈরি পোশাক। আর একক দেশ হিসেবে এ পণ্যের সবচেয়ে বড় বাজার যুক্তরাষ্ট্র। চলতি বছরের প্রথম ১০ মাসে (জানুয়ারি-অক্টোবর) বাংলাদেশ থেকে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রে তৈরি পোশাকের আমদানি বেড়েছে ২৬ দশমিক ৭৪ শতাংশ। ৬ ডিসেম্বর প্রকাশিত যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের বাণিজ্য বিভাগের অধীনস্থ অফিস অব টেক্সটাইলস অ্যান্ড অ্যাপারেলসের (ওটিইএক্সএ) পরিসংখ্যানে দেখা গেছে, জানুয়ারি থেকে অক্টোবর পর্যন্ত বাংলাদেশ থেকে ৫৬৯ কোটি ৭৪ লাখ ৪ হাজার ডলারের পোশাক আমদানি করেছে যুক্তরাষ্ট্র। দেশটি গত বছরের একই সময়ে আমদানি করে ৪৪৯ কোটি ৫২ লাখ ৪৯ হাজার ডলারের পোশাক। ফলে গত বছরের তুলনায় চলতি বছর বাংলাদেশী তৈরি পোশাক আমদানি বেড়েছে ২৬ দশমিক ৭৪ শতাংশ। বাংলাদেশ থেকে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রে আমদানি হওয়া গুরুত্বপূর্ণ পণ্যগুলোর বেশির ভাগই কটনভিত্তিক পোশাক। এসব পোশাকের উল্লেখযোগ্য পরিমাণ আমদানি হয় এমন পণ্যের মধ্যে আছে কটন ট্রাউজার, স্ল্যাকস, নিট শার্ট ও নিট ব্লাউজ। সব মিলিয়ে কটনভিত্তিক পোশাকের আমদানি আলোচ্য ১০ মাসে বেড়েছে ২৬ দশমিক ৭০ শতাংশ। ২০১৯ সালে যুক্তরাষ্ট্র বাংলাদেশ থেকে ৫৯২ কোটি ডলারের পোশাক আমদানি করেছিল। ২০২০ সালে কভিডের প্রভাবে আমদানি কমে যায়। গত বছর মার্কিন বাজারে পোশাকের আমদানি হয় ৫২২ কোটি ডলারের। এ হিসেবে ২০২০ সালে মার্কিন যুক্তরাষ্ট্রে পোশাকের আমদানি কমেছিল ১১ দশমিক ৮২ শতাংশ। এ ধারা অব্যাহত ছিল ২০২১ সালের প্রথম চার মাসেও। জানুয়ারিতে প্রবৃদ্ধির হার ছিল ঋণাত্মক ১৬ দশমিক ৬১ শতাংশ। জানুয়ারি থেকে ফেব্রুয়ারি দুই মাসে ঋণাত্মক প্রবৃদ্ধির হার ছিল ১৩ দশমিক ১১ শতাংশ। জানুয়ারি থেকে মার্চ তিন মাসে প্রবৃদ্ধি হয় ঋণাত্মক ৮ দশমিক ৫৫ শতাংশ। জানুয়ারি থেকে এপ্রিল—এ চার মাসেও প্রবৃদ্ধি ছিল ঋণাত্মক, ৩ দশমিক ৭১ শতাংশ। জানুয়ারি থেকে এপ্রিল—টানা চার মাস ঋণাত্মক প্রবৃদ্ধির পর ধনাত্মক বা ইতিবাচক ধারায় ফিরতে শুরু করে বাংলাদেশ থেকে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের পোশাক আমদানি। জানুয়ারি থেকে মে—এ পাঁচ মাসে আমদানি প্রবৃদ্ধি হয় ১৫ দশমিক ৩৮ শতাংশ। জানুয়ারি থেকে জুনে প্রবৃদ্ধির হার ছিল ২৬ দশমিক ৮১ শতাংশ। জানুয়ারি থেকে জুলাইয়ে প্রবৃদ্ধি হয় ২৮ দশমিক শূন্য ৪ শতাংশ। জানুয়ারি থেকে আগস্ট, এ আট মাসে প্রবৃদ্ধি ছিল ২৪ দশমিক ১১ শতাংশ। জানুয়ারি থেকে সেপ্টেম্বরে প্রবৃদ্ধির হার ছিল ২৬ দশমিক ৩৭ শতাংশ। ১০ মাসে বা জানুয়ারি থেকে অক্টোবরে প্রবৃদ্ধির হার হয়েছে ২৬ দশমিক ৭৪ শতাংশ। জুলাইয়ে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রভিত্তিক পোশাক ক্রেতা প্রতিষ্ঠানের ক্রয় পূর্বাভাস-সংক্রান্ত একটি প্রতিবেদন প্রকাশ পায়। ‘২০২১ ফ্যাশন ইন্ডাস্ট্রি বেঞ্চমার্কিং স্টাডি’ শীর্ষক ওই জরিপ প্রতিবেদনে উল্লেখ করা হয় বাংলাদেশ থেকে পোশাক আমদানি বাণিজ্যের গতি এখনো দুর্বল। পাশাপাশি শিল্পের সামাজিক ও শ্রম কমপ্লায়েন্স ব্যবস্থাপনায় এখনো ঝুঁকি দেখছেন তারা। তবে সোর্সিং কস্ট বা পণ্য ক্রয় বাবদ ব্যয় বিবেচনায় বাংলাদেশ এখনো আকর্ষণীয়। মূলত মূল্য সুবিধায় পণ্য কিনতেই ঝুঁকি সত্ত্বেও বাংলাদেশমুখী রয়েছেন যুক্তরাষ্ট্রে পোশাক পণ্যের ক্রেতারা। মার্কিন ফ্যাশন কোম্পানিগুলো আগামী দুই বছর বাংলাদেশ থেকে আরো বেশি পোশাক ক্রয়ে আগ্রহী উল্লেখ করে প্রতিবেদনে বলা হয়েছে, এশিয়ার অন্য দেশগুলোর চেয়ে ‘মেড ইন বাংলাদেশ’ উল্লেখযোগ্য মূল্য সুবিধা দিতে পারে। তবে কভিড-পরবর্তী বিশ্বে পোশাক পণ্য উৎপাদনে বৈচিত্র্য ঘাটতি ভোগাতে পারে বাংলাদেশী সরবরাহকারীদের। জরিপে দেখা গেছে, চলমান কভিডে ক্রেতাদের পণ্য চাহিদায় পরিবর্তন এসেছে। এখন মৌলিক পণ্যের চেয়ে সোয়েটার, স্মক ড্রেস, সোয়েটপ্যান্টের মতো পণ্যের চাহিদা বেড়েছে। নতুন এসব চাহিদা মেটাতে বাংলাদেশের চেয়ে অনেক বেশি সফল ভিয়েতনাম। ফলে কভিড-পরবর্তী বিশ্বে মার্কিন ফ্যাশন কোম্পানিগুলোর কাছে বাংলাদেশের ভূমিকা ও অবস্থান জটিল হতে হবে বলে উল্লেখ করা হয়েছে প্রতিবেদনে। বাংলাদেশের পোশাক রফতানিকারক শিল্প-কারখানার মালিক সংগঠন প্রতিনিধিরা বলছেন, আগামী দিনগুলোতে বাংলাদেশ থেকে পোশাক ক্রয় বৃদ্ধির বিষয়ে যে পূর্বাভাস মার্কিন ক্রেতা প্রতিনিধিরা দিয়েছেন তা অস্বাভাবিক নয়। যার প্রতিফলন দেখা যাচ্ছে মার্কিন বাণিজ্য মন্ত্রণালয়ের পোশাক আমদানির পরিসংখ্যানে। চলতি অর্থবছর শেষেই মার্কিন যুক্তরাষ্ট্রে প্রবৃদ্ধির হার ২৫ শতাংশও হতে পারে বলে প্রত্যাশা ছিল। মার্কিন পরিসংখ্যানে ছয় মাসেই ২৬ শতাংশের বেশি প্রবৃদ্ধি তাই বেশ আশাব্যঞ্জক। বাংলাদেশ নিটওয়্যার ম্যানুফ্যাকচারার্স অ্যান্ড এক্সপোর্টার্স অ্যাসোসিয়েশনের (বিকেএমইএ) প্রথম সহসভাপতি মোহাম্মদ হাতেম বলেন, মার্কিন ক্রেতাদের জন্য বাংলাদেশে তৈরি পোশাকের চাহিদা ক্রমেই আরো বাড়বে বলে আমরা মনে করি। আমাদের হিসাব বলছে চলতি অর্থবছরে দেশটিতে রফতানি প্রবৃদ্ধি ২৫ শতাংশও হতে পারে। ফলে আগামী দিনগুলোতে বাংলাদেশ থেকে বেশি পণ্য ক্রয়ে মার্কিন ক্রেতাদের আগ্রহ স্বাভাবিক। 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted December 28, 2021 Elite Members Share Posted December 28, 2021 https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/bangladesh-24th-largest-economy-2036-cebr-349177#.YciPXkfutjQ.facebook Tarif Tahmeed Khan 26 December, 2021, 09:40 pm Last modified: 27 December, 2021, 12:50 pm Bangladesh to become 24th largest economy by 2036: Report The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) disclosed the findings in its annual World Economic League Table (WELT 2022) report on Sunday, stating that Bangladesh has been among the world's fastest growing economies over the last decade Bangladesh is set to become the 24th largest economy out of 191 countries by 2036 owing to its ability to attract large foreign investments, the rising RMG demand, and macroeconomic stability, says the CEBR. The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) disclosed the findings in its annual World Economic League Table (WELT 2022) report on Sunday, stating that Bangladesh has been among the world's fastest growing economies over the last decade. The country is forecast to place 41st in 2022 up from its current position of 42, reaching the 34th place in 2026, before eventually jumping to 24th in 2036. This represents an economic boom during the ongoing, as well as, the next decade. Previously, the nation held 58th, 59th, and 46th positions in 2006, 2011, and 2016 respectively, indicating an upward trend in economic performance and consistency in growth. As of 2021, the think tank classifies Bangladesh as a lower middle-income country. In the report, the Bangladesh government's efforts to maintain a low debt-to-GDP ratio and operate a fiscal deficit of 5.9% in FY21 was mentioned in glowing terms. On the other hand, the Covid-19 mortality rate was observed to be comparatively lower than most countries worldwide – as of mid-December 2021 – with more than half of the residents vaccinated with at least one dose. It stated that the nation's vaccination drive was in line with global standards. Apart from rising international demand for ready-made garments (RMG), which ensures a hefty amount of income from exports, the report mentioned that a large volume of foreign investments is entering the country's telecommunication industry driven by a competent workforce skilled in information and communication technology. Over the last few years, China has invested heavily in Bangladesh's economy as its strategic location provides an ease of trade accessibility via the Indian Ocean. The report also mentioned that despite the coronavirus pandemic, the country's economy expanded by 3.5% in 2020, a rare achievement compared to international standards. This was due to the strong remittance inflows and rebound of exports. The CEBR expects Bangladesh to have 4.6% economic growth this year. However, the report mentioned that the economy might face multiple hurdles while achieving a medium to long term outlook as it is yet to diversify exports beyond RMG, incorporate sustainable production processes for zero net emissions, and address infrastructural gaps for reducing disparities across geographical regions. India has been holding the top position in the South Asian region since the first edition of the report came out in 2009, and is forecasted to become the 3rd largest economy by 2031. Bangladesh is currently the second largest economy in the region, says the report, and will continue to keep its position till 2036 with a GDP size of $884 billion at constant prices (currently $325 billion). Pakistan (46th) holds the third position followed by Sri Lanka (69th), Nepal (99th), Maldives (154th), and Bhutan (164th) in South Asia. The US (1st), China (2nd), and Japan (3rd) are currently the top three economies in the world, and it is forecasted that China will become the largest within the next decade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elite Members Joel Ahmed Posted July 13, 2022 Elite Members Share Posted July 13, 2022 https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/over-50-bangladeshis-now-lead-multinationals-261484#:~:text=Some of the most well,multinationals began growing last year. Jasim Uddin 15 June, 2021, 11:05 pm Last modified: 16 June, 2021, 09:10 am Over 50 Bangladeshis now lead multinationals They are working in various sectors, such as banking, telecom, pharmaceutical, and tobacco From the top left: Imran Khan, Rupali Chowdhury and Lumat Ahmed; From the bottom left: Dr Omar Ishrak, Ata Safdar and Abrar Anwar When Muhammad A (Rumee) Ali was appointed the country head of ANZ Grindlays Bank Bangladesh in 1997, he might have searched for another Bangladeshi at the helm of any global company – be it at home or abroad. Coveted top positions of multinational companies were in fact kept reserved for foreigners. But now, more than 50 Bangladeshis head multinational companies in the country and abroad. They are working in leading positions at multinational companies in various sectors, such as banking, telecom, pharmaceutical, tobacco, fast-moving consumer goods, and clothing. Some of the most well-known names are Imran Khan, Dr Omar Ishrak, Lumat Ahmed, Abrar Anwar, Ata Safdar, and A (Rumee) Ali. The number of Bangladeshis in leadership positions at multinationals began growing last year. That year, Dr Omar became the chairman of Intel board, Yasir Azman was appointed as the chief executive officer (CEO) at Grameenphone, and Mahtab Uddin Ahmed was appointed as a board member of Ncell Axiata Limited Nepal. "Everyone in such roles has a story to tell and the stories have something in common," said Mamun Rashid, who was the managing director of Citibank NA Bangladesh for nine and a half years since 2001. He said multinational companies always appoint local CEOs to facilitate local operations considering several aspects, such as a better understanding of the company's goal, mission, and vision; global outlook; local culture and consumer taste; reputation and emerging risk; and relationship with regulators. The ability to serve the company is the first quality that multinationals look for when they hire CEOs, he said. "In an increasingly globalised world, thinking outside the box, respecting core values of the company, upward management skills, reputation, the ability to get the best out of team members, and commitment to success are necessary to lead a multinational," he added. In the last few years, multinational companies posted their officials abroad to help them gain overseas experience and are now offering them leadership positions in Bangladesh with a smart package, said Mamun, also a managing partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). He said more Bangladeshis would be appointed in leading positions in the coming days. Berger Paints Bangladesh has a long history of appointing locals in the leadership position, said Rupali Chowdhury, the company's managing director since 2008. She said they have a number of brilliant people in the pipeline to lead the company. She joined Berger in 1990 as the planning manager and has worked in various departments, such as marketing, sales, and supply chain and systems, in different supervisory capacities. "I have cross-departmental experience in this company," she added. Quoting American management expert Jack Welch, she said to develop a multinational in a new country, a foreigner has to head it for up to three years and should develop a local leader during this time for better localisation of the company. Local officials know the taste of local customers better and also have better knowledge of local culture, laws, and regulators, she added. Expeditors Bangladesh Country Manager and Managing Director Syed Ershad Ahmed said most of the multinational firms appoint locals in top positions, except for a few, like Chevron. "Our young professionals are brilliant. They have the capability to lead multinationals," said Ershad, also the president of American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh. Dr Lafifa Jamal, robotics and mechatronics engineering professor at the University of Dhaka, said the alumni of the university's computer science and engineering department are working in every tech giant, such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, Uber, and LinkedIn. She said IT jobs were once dominated by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) students but pupils of the University of Dhaka, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, the University of Chittagong, and other engineering universities are also doing better now. Most of the tech companies have recruiting hubs in India, but Bangladeshi students are doing better abroad as they do not have better opportunities here, she added. Multinationals headed by Bangladeshis In April 1997, A (Rumee) Ali became the country head of ANZ Grindlays Bank Bangladesh, which merged with Standard Chartered Bangladesh in 2002. He served Standard Chartered Bangladesh as the CEO for over two years. In 2002, Ata Safdar was appointed as the managing director of Reckitt Benckiser Bangladesh. He served in that position for five years. Currently, he is serving the company as a senior vice president in Singapore. Golam Mainuddin has been the chairman of British American Tobacco Bangladesh since August 2008. Kamran Bakr has been an independent director at Robi since February this year. He led Unilever Bangladesh from 2012 to 2017 as its chairman and managing director, and Unilever Nepal as its managing director from 2007 to 2011. Shehzad Munim has been the managing director of British American Tobacco Bangladesh since October 2013. Syed Mohammad Kamal has been the country manager of Mastercard Bangladesh since 2013. Prior to joining Mastercard, he worked at Berger Paints Bangladesh, Western Union, and SSL Wireless in leadership positions. In 2016, Mahtab Uddin Ahmed was appointed as the first Bangladesh CEO and managing director at Robi. He joined the company in 2010. Abrar Anwar was appointed as the managing director and CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia in 2017. Prior to that, he was the CEO of the bank's Bangladesh operations for two years. In November 2017, Naser Ezaz Bijoy was appointed as the CEO of Standard Chartered Bangladesh. Before this, he was the bank's managing director and head of corporate and institutional clients. Unilever Bangladesh has appointed Zaved Akhtar as the CEO and managing director. His appointment will come into effect on 1 July. Zaved will also join the Unilever South Asia leadership team. He is currently serving as the vice president of digital transformation and growth, South Asia, in India. Tahmina Ahmed has been appointed as the additional managing director of Seven Rings Cement. Prior to that, she had been on the board of directors since 2007. Muin Uddin Mazumder has been the managing director of Sanofi Bangladesh since 2017. He joined the company in 1995. Lumat Ahmed was appointed as the sourcing category director at French clothing brand Lacoste this year. Prior to that, he worked at a number of apparel sourcing brands in various positions at home and abroad. Imran Khan was the chief strategy officer at the American multinational technology company Snapchat from 2015 to 2018. He became the co-founder and CEO of Verishop, a livestream shopping app, in November 2018 to bring a new way to discover products and connect with experts and brands on a social commerce platform. Bangladeshi-born businessman Dr Omar Ishrak became the chairman of Intel's board of directors in May 2020. He will serve the board for seven years. Bangladeshis in apparel leadership In July 2019, Ziaur Rahman was appointed as the first regional country manager for Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Ethiopia at H&M. Before that, he had 20 years of experience in the apparel industry. He started his career as a merchandiser at Allana Group in June 1996. Shwapna Bhowmick is the country manager for Bangladesh and Myanmar at Marks and Spencer. Prior to that, she worked for global brands like Next and Walmart before joining Marks and Spencer in 2006 as a merchandiser. Shafiur Rahman has been the country manager for G-Star Raw since July 2013. He started his career as a product developer at Youngone Corporation in March 2003. Arif Razzaque has been the regional merchandising director at Kiabi International Supply Services Bangladesh since November 2017. Earlier, he served as the country manager at Sears Holdings Global Sourcing and the sourcing hub manager at Carrefour Global Sourcing Bangladesh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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