FICCI plea to improve energy situation
Thursday, 21 January 2010
FE Report
The Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Wednesday urged the government to improve the country's energy situation immediately to attract much needed foreign direct investment (FDI).
A team of the office-bearers led by president AM Hamim Rahmatullah made the plea when it called on the Commerce Minister, Faruk Khan, at his office in the city.
"We're having trouble running our factories due to lack of energy. We need power to operate our plants and set up new ones," MA Matin, secretary general of the FICCI told reporters after the meeting.
In reply, the commerce minister said the energy situation will be improved shortly and added that it was essential to attract more FDI this year.
The FICCI leaders in their meeting with the commerce minister expressed concern over the recent developments on the Dhaka University campus.
"We've expressed our dissatisfaction over the recent students' unrest on the campus. We have also requested the minister to tackle the situation carefully so that no spill over affect takes place," Mr Matin added.
The FICCI leaders also urged the government to take steps on the issue of providing partnership in the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).
Currently, seven leading chamber bodies and seven associations get nominated directorship in the FBCCI.
"We are the highest taxpayers' group. We want nominated directorship in the FBCCI to ensure our representation in the country's apex chamber body," Mr Matin added.
The commerce minister apprised the FICCI leaders about the government initiatives taken in different fields to promote the country's export and overall trade.
Mr Khan said the opposition party was issuing statements without knowing the facts of the joint communiqué signed recently between Bangladesh and India.
"The first line in the communiqué is to increase Bangladesh's export to India to reduce the trade gap between the two countries."
The minister said the existing trade barriers will be removed by implementing the agreements and added: "The negative list of products will be narrowed down by India for Bangladeshi products to have more access to the neighbouring country."
The Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Wednesday urged the government to improve the country's energy situation immediately to attract much needed foreign direct investment (FDI).
A team of the office-bearers led by president AM Hamim Rahmatullah made the plea when it called on the Commerce Minister, Faruk Khan, at his office in the city.
"We're having trouble running our factories due to lack of energy. We need power to operate our plants and set up new ones," MA Matin, secretary general of the FICCI told reporters after the meeting.
In reply, the commerce minister said the energy situation will be improved shortly and added that it was essential to attract more FDI this year.
The FICCI leaders in their meeting with the commerce minister expressed concern over the recent developments on the Dhaka University campus.
"We've expressed our dissatisfaction over the recent students' unrest on the campus. We have also requested the minister to tackle the situation carefully so that no spill over affect takes place," Mr Matin added.
The FICCI leaders also urged the government to take steps on the issue of providing partnership in the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).
Currently, seven leading chamber bodies and seven associations get nominated directorship in the FBCCI.
"We are the highest taxpayers' group. We want nominated directorship in the FBCCI to ensure our representation in the country's apex chamber body," Mr Matin added.
The commerce minister apprised the FICCI leaders about the government initiatives taken in different fields to promote the country's export and overall trade.
Mr Khan said the opposition party was issuing statements without knowing the facts of the joint communiqué signed recently between Bangladesh and India.
"The first line in the communiqué is to increase Bangladesh's export to India to reduce the trade gap between the two countries."
The minister said the existing trade barriers will be removed by implementing the agreements and added: "The negative list of products will be narrowed down by India for Bangladeshi products to have more access to the neighbouring country."