Economy doing well, says PM

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Saturday said her government has been relentlessly working to bring down the poverty rate to 21.5 per cent from the existing 31.5 per cent within the next four years by developing the country's agriculture and industrial sectors, report agencies. Sheikh Hasina said the economy is 'doing well' despite 'multifarious' problems being faced by economies around the world, in an apparent rejoinder to the opposition leader's claims of messy management. "The developed countries are facing economic crisis. Most countries are facing various economic challenges. Anxiety is also there in developing economies. Still we can claim that we have kept the wheels of economy rolling," she said. Inaugurating the three-day 22nd Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition- 2011 (Batexpo-2011) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, she urged the apparel industry owners to take more steps towards improving the working condition and salaries of their workers to achieve the poverty reduction goal. The Prime Minister also laid emphasis on better relations between workers and owners for better productivity and assured the apparel industry owners of extending all necessary government supports to the sector as a facilitator. Jute and Textiles Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui, LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Industries Minister Dilip Barua, Commerce Minister GM Quader, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Faruk Khan and Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan also spoke on the occasion. Chaired by BGMEA president Safiul Islam Mohiuddin, the inaugural session was also addressed by its first vice president Nasir Uddin Chowdhuy and second vice president M Siddiqur Rahman. Reiterating her firm commitment to the development of the apparel sector and ensure the welfare of the workers, Hasina said the steps of the government and efforts of the garment owners will be successful in expanding the export-oriented sector. The Prime Minister said the new industrial policy of the government has earmarked 21 sectors as thrust ones for providing greater opportunities to private entrepreneurs. To create more opportunities for setting up new industries, she said the government is going to set up special economic zones across the country. About investment, Hasina said domestic and foreign investments are increasing while capital machinery and raw material imports are showing positive growth. The country has already earned GSP facilities to India, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan and China, she mentioned. Highlighting her government's steps to protect the highest foreign exchange earning garment sector from the fallout of global recession, she said her government has been providing incentive to the sector for the last two consecutive years apart from 17 other sectors.