Businessmen seek more budgetary allocation for research and dev
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
FE Report
Businessmen Tuesday urged the government to increase budgetary allocation for research and development sector to create and protect intellectuals who would lead the country's overall development in coming days. They said the government should provide special incentive to encourage private sector in the field of research and development as the country is very much lagging behind in the global arena in terms of generating a meritorious community. "Integrated efforts are needed for the issue as well-protected intellectual property and individuals can help the government achieve its vision of Digital Bangladesh by 2021," President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) AK Azad said at a seminar in city. FBCCI, the country's apex business body, arranged the seminar at its conference room to mark the World Intellectual Property Day in association with Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Department of Patents, Design and Trademarks (DPDT). The main theme of this year is 'Designing the Future'. The FBCCI president said the present government has given strong emphasis on intellectual property (IP) in its programmes to reach its vision, which is very much encouraging. "We've to build up awareness among the citizens about IP as a large portion of the national income will come from the sector," he said, adding that initiative will have to be taken to remove the lengthy process in patent and trademark registration. Vice President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry TIM Nurul Kabir said the government should strengthen DPDT and copyright offices so that those institutions can play the expected role in protecting and developing IP. The businessmen at the event suggested that the government keep research costs at individual level and private sector tax free. They also called for providing additional financial support to educational institutions for the purpose of research and invention. President of Bangladesh Computer Samity Mustafa Jabbar in his PowerPoint presentation said the level of generating intellectuals in Bangladesh is not so good compared to the other developing countries. "Dependence on IP should be increased as information, knowledge and creativity will dominate global economy," he said, urging the government to spend more money in research and development to create intellectuals, who would dominate the future. He said the United States spent highest amount in the sector, followed by Japan, Germany, Britain and France. "But Bangladesh is not in the list, resulting in poor production," said Mustafa Jabbar. He urged the business community to invest in the industry to compete globally as many businesses would be destroyed in the next 20 years and new knowledge and information-based businesses would grow and capture the blank space. Mr Jabbar suggested forming special taskforce under the ministry of industries to apply the intellectual property act and update the patent act which was enacted in 1911. Speaking as chief guest, Industries Minister Dilip Barua said the government for the first time incorporated the IP in the Industries Policy that was made last year. "The government will do every possible thing for the development and protection of IP," he said. "Efforts are on to update the Patent and Design Act 1911. I hope the process will be completed soon," the minister said. He admitted that the nation could not take enough initiative to properly nourish and protect IP but that did not mean that the present government did not put importance on it. "A number of initiatives, including enactment of Trademark Act 2010, have been taken on the issue, he said."
Businessmen Tuesday urged the government to increase budgetary allocation for research and development sector to create and protect intellectuals who would lead the country's overall development in coming days. They said the government should provide special incentive to encourage private sector in the field of research and development as the country is very much lagging behind in the global arena in terms of generating a meritorious community. "Integrated efforts are needed for the issue as well-protected intellectual property and individuals can help the government achieve its vision of Digital Bangladesh by 2021," President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) AK Azad said at a seminar in city. FBCCI, the country's apex business body, arranged the seminar at its conference room to mark the World Intellectual Property Day in association with Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Department of Patents, Design and Trademarks (DPDT). The main theme of this year is 'Designing the Future'. The FBCCI president said the present government has given strong emphasis on intellectual property (IP) in its programmes to reach its vision, which is very much encouraging. "We've to build up awareness among the citizens about IP as a large portion of the national income will come from the sector," he said, adding that initiative will have to be taken to remove the lengthy process in patent and trademark registration. Vice President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry TIM Nurul Kabir said the government should strengthen DPDT and copyright offices so that those institutions can play the expected role in protecting and developing IP. The businessmen at the event suggested that the government keep research costs at individual level and private sector tax free. They also called for providing additional financial support to educational institutions for the purpose of research and invention. President of Bangladesh Computer Samity Mustafa Jabbar in his PowerPoint presentation said the level of generating intellectuals in Bangladesh is not so good compared to the other developing countries. "Dependence on IP should be increased as information, knowledge and creativity will dominate global economy," he said, urging the government to spend more money in research and development to create intellectuals, who would dominate the future. He said the United States spent highest amount in the sector, followed by Japan, Germany, Britain and France. "But Bangladesh is not in the list, resulting in poor production," said Mustafa Jabbar. He urged the business community to invest in the industry to compete globally as many businesses would be destroyed in the next 20 years and new knowledge and information-based businesses would grow and capture the blank space. Mr Jabbar suggested forming special taskforce under the ministry of industries to apply the intellectual property act and update the patent act which was enacted in 1911. Speaking as chief guest, Industries Minister Dilip Barua said the government for the first time incorporated the IP in the Industries Policy that was made last year. "The government will do every possible thing for the development and protection of IP," he said. "Efforts are on to update the Patent and Design Act 1911. I hope the process will be completed soon," the minister said. He admitted that the nation could not take enough initiative to properly nourish and protect IP but that did not mean that the present government did not put importance on it. "A number of initiatives, including enactment of Trademark Act 2010, have been taken on the issue, he said."