First meeting of Better Business Forum today
Saturday, 15 December 2007
FE Report
The 'Bangladesh Better Business Forum' (BBBF) is moving forward with target-specific and result-oriented approach as the high-profile body gathers today (Saturday) to hold its first meeting.
The 36-member public-private forum, with this in view, will fix the number of working groups and frame the modalities of functioning and monitoring mechanism, well-placed sources said Friday.
Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, who is also heading the BBBF, is expected to preside over the meeting, to be attended by members of the platform.
"We don't want to be labeled as a talk shop … Rather some practical arrangements will be in place to make it really effective," one source, who is involved in finalising the agenda, told the FE.
"Although it is the first meeting, it will chart out a clear roadmap, fix the number of working groups, define their modalities and share ideas about how the proposals of various working groups can be implemented. Members will also discuss on how monitoring can be strengthened," the source pointed out.
The high-profile body, a replica of Vietnam Business Forum, has brought in top policy makers, private sector captains and civil society representatives in an attempt to provide a platform between the government and the private sector.
The executive organ of the forum has agreed, in principle, to keep the number of working groups smaller, allowing them to work on specific areas and function in a target-oriented way, it is reliably learnt.
"Members will be requested to give ideas about how the future working groups' proposals can be implemented and how monitoring can be strengthened," one member pointed out.
In the meeting, the new executive chairman of the Board of Investment, who is also the member secretary of the BBBF, will share the benefits Vietnam has reaped since the formation of similar body.
The caretaker administration, in a notification issued on November 26, announced formation of the first-ever public-private business forum designed in a way so it can strengthen interaction between the business community and government top brass.
Business leaders have welcomed the government's decision, saying the body will act as "an important vehicle" between the private sector and the government, thus boosting the confidence of the business community.
The erosion of business confidence has remained one of hot-button topics since the present interim administration's crackdown on corruption was launched in January this year.
The forum will meet thrice a year with the chief adviser in the chair, while at operational levels, members will meet at least once every two months with the executive chairman presiding, according to the government decision.
The working groups, once formed, will work in the areas of foreign direct investment, and investment promotion, sectoral development, tax policy, import, export, infrastructure for private sector development, privatisation, information and communications technology, global trade and human resource development.
CA, a former World Bank economist and Bangladesh Bank governor, is heading the forum, with its secretariat being housed at the Board of Investment (BoI) office.
The forum has inducted some top bureaucrats, chamber leaders and some private sector captains. It has also brought in noted economists and civil society representatives.
The 'Bangladesh Better Business Forum' (BBBF) is moving forward with target-specific and result-oriented approach as the high-profile body gathers today (Saturday) to hold its first meeting.
The 36-member public-private forum, with this in view, will fix the number of working groups and frame the modalities of functioning and monitoring mechanism, well-placed sources said Friday.
Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, who is also heading the BBBF, is expected to preside over the meeting, to be attended by members of the platform.
"We don't want to be labeled as a talk shop … Rather some practical arrangements will be in place to make it really effective," one source, who is involved in finalising the agenda, told the FE.
"Although it is the first meeting, it will chart out a clear roadmap, fix the number of working groups, define their modalities and share ideas about how the proposals of various working groups can be implemented. Members will also discuss on how monitoring can be strengthened," the source pointed out.
The high-profile body, a replica of Vietnam Business Forum, has brought in top policy makers, private sector captains and civil society representatives in an attempt to provide a platform between the government and the private sector.
The executive organ of the forum has agreed, in principle, to keep the number of working groups smaller, allowing them to work on specific areas and function in a target-oriented way, it is reliably learnt.
"Members will be requested to give ideas about how the future working groups' proposals can be implemented and how monitoring can be strengthened," one member pointed out.
In the meeting, the new executive chairman of the Board of Investment, who is also the member secretary of the BBBF, will share the benefits Vietnam has reaped since the formation of similar body.
The caretaker administration, in a notification issued on November 26, announced formation of the first-ever public-private business forum designed in a way so it can strengthen interaction between the business community and government top brass.
Business leaders have welcomed the government's decision, saying the body will act as "an important vehicle" between the private sector and the government, thus boosting the confidence of the business community.
The erosion of business confidence has remained one of hot-button topics since the present interim administration's crackdown on corruption was launched in January this year.
The forum will meet thrice a year with the chief adviser in the chair, while at operational levels, members will meet at least once every two months with the executive chairman presiding, according to the government decision.
The working groups, once formed, will work in the areas of foreign direct investment, and investment promotion, sectoral development, tax policy, import, export, infrastructure for private sector development, privatisation, information and communications technology, global trade and human resource development.
CA, a former World Bank economist and Bangladesh Bank governor, is heading the forum, with its secretariat being housed at the Board of Investment (BoI) office.
The forum has inducted some top bureaucrats, chamber leaders and some private sector captains. It has also brought in noted economists and civil society representatives.