Govt top brass meet business leaders this week

---

FE Report
The commerce ministry will sit with the country's business leaders this week to discuss the steps needed to prop up exports, import and private investment that could give a boost to the economy, sources said.
"The meeting is being organised to restore confidence of the business people and encourage them to invest to help bolster the economy," commerce secretary Feroz Ahmed said Saturday as he explained the objective of Wednesday's meeting.
Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed is expected to attend the exchange of views meeting as the chief guest while army chief General Moin U Ahmed has been invited to it as the special guest.
The Ministry of Commerce has organised the meeting at a city hotel to be chaired by finance, planning and commerce adviser Mirza Azizul Islam.
Chamber leaders, top corporate executives, leading businessmen, importers, bankers, economists and members of the civil society have been invited to share their views on a host of critical issues related to the economy with top policy-makers, commerce ministry officials said.
The meeting will take stock of the country's foreign trade, investment, price hike of essentials, inflation, impact of flood and growth against the backdrop of anti-corruption drive, they added.
More than 400 businessmen are expected to attend the meeting.
Feroz Ahmed said: "The meeting will basically exchange views with the business community on the state of economy. The government side will also encourage them to increase investment." "The government will clarify its attitude toward businesses as a whole."
"It (meeting) will be a free and frank discussion. Every participant will be allowed to voice his views and put forward recommendations," the commerce secretary told the FE.
Commerce ministry officials hinted that both the Chief Adviser and the army chief would assure the business community of running businesses and making investments without any fear.
"The meeting is intended to assuage the apprehension of businessmen, as their confidence is said to have eroded to a large extent since the crackdown on corruption." an official said.
"The message from the top government functionary will help boost confidence of the business people," he added.
According to the sources, president of International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh (ICC,B) Mahbubur Rahman, a director of the Federation of Bangladesh of Chambers of Commerce and Industry A Rouf Chowdhury and former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association Annisul Huq will address the meeting on behalf of the businesses.