FBCCI president AK Azad Tuesday expressed deep concern over the future political situation in the country and said business community wanted to know in which direction the politics was heading, reports UNB.
"Business people are worried over the political situation. We don't want to see 1/11 episode again which had gone away, because businessmen were the worst sufferers," Azad said while addressing a discussion meeting in the city Tuesday.
He said country's business people are now united and urged the government to take steps for bringing back the businessmen who had settled down abroad.
The apex trade body arranged a roundtable discussion on 'Role of Foreign Missions in Export Growth and Market Expansion in Africa' at FBCCI conference centre with its president AK Azad in the chair.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Foreign Secretary Mijarul Kayes, BRAC
Executive Director Mahbub Hossain, CPD Executive Director Mustafizur Rahman, Channel-i director (news) Shaikh Siraj and FBCCI First Vice President Jasim Uddin addressed it.
Responding to AK Azad's concern over political instability, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said when the entire world is telling about Bangladesh's potentiality, some people or a section of people are telling about apprehension.
She sought support from the business community for caretaker government issue reminding them of the harassment they faced during the regime of the last caretaker government.
"If the Awami League government remains in power, there is nothing to be worried about", she expressed the hope assuring that "we work in favour of the business people".
Dipu Moni said a free, fair and credible election is possible under an elected and democratic government and it has been proved already. "The recently held elections at different levels had proved it."
Pointing at opposition, Dipu Moni said they do not have minimum respect for people's verdict which brought Awami League to power.
On investment climate in foreign countries, she said there should be have opportunity to invest abroad though there might have been some problems.
"We'll have to move scrutinising different aspects case by case. We'll have to establish ourselves as trust-worthy investors abroad ensuring win-win situation for both the parties."
Dipu Moni said the government is not only looking at Africa but it also gives attention to Latin America, Cambodia and other prospective countries. "Our fact-finding missions will go there soon."
She said the government has approved setting up of 19 new foreign missions and five of them will be set up in the first phase. "We've taken initiative to increase the workforce in the foreign missions."
Foreign Secretary Mijarul Kayes emphasised the need for maximising market access, saying the more Bangladesh will have market access, the more it will have competitiveness.
CPD Executive Director Mustafizur Rahman said how much benefit Bangladesh will have if it invests in Africa will have to be ascertained first.
"Meanwhile, we need to calculate whether our foreign reserve becomes thinner due to bulk investment in foreign countries," he said adding there is no doubt that there is a big potentiality for Bangladesh investment.
"Decision will have to be taken carefully….we need to ensure how much return we'll have. We need aggressive diplomacy," he said.
Taking part in the discussion, Bangladesh Africa Business Organisation president Abdul Matlub Ahmad said, "Africa is calling us. Immense opportunity is there for Bangladeshi investors. Give us opportunity to invest in Africa."
Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Amjad Khan, Bangladesh Exporters Association president Abdus Salam Murshedy, Uganda Consul Abul Hossain, FBCCI directors Abul Momen and Abdul Haque, among others, took part in the discussion.
http://www.fe-bd.com/more.php?news_id=137650&date=2011-06-01
"Business people are worried over the political situation. We don't want to see 1/11 episode again which had gone away, because businessmen were the worst sufferers," Azad said while addressing a discussion meeting in the city Tuesday.
He said country's business people are now united and urged the government to take steps for bringing back the businessmen who had settled down abroad.
The apex trade body arranged a roundtable discussion on 'Role of Foreign Missions in Export Growth and Market Expansion in Africa' at FBCCI conference centre with its president AK Azad in the chair.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Foreign Secretary Mijarul Kayes, BRAC
Executive Director Mahbub Hossain, CPD Executive Director Mustafizur Rahman, Channel-i director (news) Shaikh Siraj and FBCCI First Vice President Jasim Uddin addressed it.
Responding to AK Azad's concern over political instability, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said when the entire world is telling about Bangladesh's potentiality, some people or a section of people are telling about apprehension.
She sought support from the business community for caretaker government issue reminding them of the harassment they faced during the regime of the last caretaker government.
"If the Awami League government remains in power, there is nothing to be worried about", she expressed the hope assuring that "we work in favour of the business people".
Dipu Moni said a free, fair and credible election is possible under an elected and democratic government and it has been proved already. "The recently held elections at different levels had proved it."
Pointing at opposition, Dipu Moni said they do not have minimum respect for people's verdict which brought Awami League to power.
On investment climate in foreign countries, she said there should be have opportunity to invest abroad though there might have been some problems.
"We'll have to move scrutinising different aspects case by case. We'll have to establish ourselves as trust-worthy investors abroad ensuring win-win situation for both the parties."
Dipu Moni said the government is not only looking at Africa but it also gives attention to Latin America, Cambodia and other prospective countries. "Our fact-finding missions will go there soon."
She said the government has approved setting up of 19 new foreign missions and five of them will be set up in the first phase. "We've taken initiative to increase the workforce in the foreign missions."
Foreign Secretary Mijarul Kayes emphasised the need for maximising market access, saying the more Bangladesh will have market access, the more it will have competitiveness.
CPD Executive Director Mustafizur Rahman said how much benefit Bangladesh will have if it invests in Africa will have to be ascertained first.
"Meanwhile, we need to calculate whether our foreign reserve becomes thinner due to bulk investment in foreign countries," he said adding there is no doubt that there is a big potentiality for Bangladesh investment.
"Decision will have to be taken carefully….we need to ensure how much return we'll have. We need aggressive diplomacy," he said.
Taking part in the discussion, Bangladesh Africa Business Organisation president Abdul Matlub Ahmad said, "Africa is calling us. Immense opportunity is there for Bangladeshi investors. Give us opportunity to invest in Africa."
Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Amjad Khan, Bangladesh Exporters Association president Abdus Salam Murshedy, Uganda Consul Abul Hossain, FBCCI directors Abul Momen and Abdul Haque, among others, took part in the discussion.
http://www.fe-bd.com/more.php?news_id=137650&date=2011-06-01
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