BD to seek increased investment

Bangladesh will uphold the existing 'favourable' investment climate at the high-level World Investment Forum -2014 (WIF-2014) that begins in Geneva today (Monday) and seek increased investment for the country, said an official in the city on Sunday, reports UNB.
Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu will lead a Bangladesh delegation to the four-day multi-stakeholder gathering designed to facilitate dialogue and action on the world's key emerging investment-related challenges.
Japan, China, South Korea, India and other countries have already shown their interest to come up with massive investments indicating that Bangladesh is increasingly becoming a lucrative investment destination, said the official.
 "We'll uphold the overall investment climate scenario that currently exists in the country apart from describing other investment facilities," the official said, adding, that Bangladesh will also discuss the importance of investment for sustainable development.
The industries minister left Dhaka for Geneva Sunday night to attend the Forum, to be hosted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad). It will be held at the United Nations Office housed at the Palais des Nations.
Board of Investment (BoI) Executive Chairman Syed A Samad, Bangladesh Ambassador to Switzerland M Shameem Ahsan, Additional Secretary of Industries Ministry Begum Parag, Joint Secretary Begum Afroza Khan, Deputy Secretary M Fahimul Islam, Director of Foreign Ministry Shanchita Haque, Deputy Director of BoI M Ariful Haque will accompany the minister in the Forum wherein ministers from some 40 countries will take part.
Amir Hossain Amu will also deliver a speech at a roundtable titled 'Financing for the Sustainable Development' to be held on Thursday.
He will highlight the initiatives taken by the government so far. Mr Amu will also hold bilateral talks with top UN officials on the sidelines.
The WIF is planned to provide a platform where a debate on 'investment for development' can take place and ultimately to promote investment flows that contribute to sustainable and inclusive development.
With its ties to UN member states, the Forum can bring together a broad coalition of investment stakeholders at the highest level who can influence the global investment landscape.
The past editions of the WIF brought together almost 4,000 participants from more than 140 countries across the world, including Heads of State, global CEOs, heads of international organisations and civil society, according to the Unctad.
The previous Forum, held in Doha, Qatar in 2012, addressed the investment challenges and opportunities arising from emerging global economic governance structures and contributed to the development of policy options and partnerships for promoting sustainable investment to foster inclusive growth.