Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina has informed parliament that country received Tk 65 billion foreign direct investment (FDI) during the period from 2009 to 2013, report agencies.
The FDI emanated from France, Australia, Japan, China, Germany, South Korea, India, USA, Spain, Thailand, Singapore and UK for industry and commerce.
The PM also said that these countries also expressed keen interest to invest in agro-based, textile, chemical, engineering, food, leather and service sectors.
In a question-answer session in parliament on Wednesday, the PM said, "From 2009 to 2013, 306 industrial projects were registered, with a total investment of Tk 65 billion."
Responding to a question of Panchagarh-2 MP Nurul Islam Sujan, PM told the Parliament, "During this period, 556 joint investment projects were also registered, with an estimated investment of Tk 820 billion."
Answering to another query of Naogaon-6 MP Israfil Alam PM said, Japan promised to invest $6 billion in infrastructure development and other priority sectors over the next 5-6 years. Soon a Japanese delegation would visit the country to conduct a feasibility study.
Government decided to utilise the Japanese assistance in Ganges Barrage project, construction of another rail bridge near Bangabandhu bridge, building tunnel under Karnaphuli river, construction of Dhaka eastern bypass and dredging of four rivers surrounding Dhaka, PM added.
The PM also informed the parliament that a total of 233 foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are now working in Bangladesh.
"As many as 342 foreigners and 15,815 Bangladeshis are working with these NGOs," she said replying to a tabled question from Jatiya Party lawmaker AKM Maidul Islam.
The Leader of the House said there must have an arrangement in the organogram of the organisation or in the project approved by the NGO Bureau if any NGO wants to appoint foreign nationals.
As per the conditions of the appointment, she said, the foreign nationals are appointed, and subsequently they work by taking "no objection certificates" of the NGO Bureau and the Home Ministry.
In many cases, Sheikh Hasina said, foreign nationals work as volunteers and they don't receive any salary or allowances.
