Industry to grow three times in next one and half decade

Bangladesh's aviation sector is likely to grow three times in the next one and a half decade on the back of initiatives taken by the government, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali said on Sunday.
"Bangladesh is now a potential name in the aviation sector which has doubled in the last one decade and is expected to be tripled in the next one and a half decade," he said.
Mr Ali made the projection at the opening session of the 58th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Asia and Pacific Region, at a city hotel.
He joined the function as the chief guest, while chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Air Vice Marshal (AVM) M Mafidur Rahman presided over the opening ceremony of the five day conference.
The state minister also said that this year is the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's establishing relation with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Referring to the steps taken by the government, he said Bangladesh has completed the construction of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport's third terminal.
Civil Aviation and Tourism (MoCAT) Secretary Mokammel Hossain and ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano were present at the ceremony among others.
The CAAB Chairman Mafidur Rahman was elected the president of the 58th DGCA and the Director General of Philippines Civil Aviation Authority Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo was elected as the vice president of the five-day conference.
A total of 327 delegates representing 36 civil aviation authorities and aviation-related 11 international organisations are participating in the conference.
The theme topic of the conference is 'Promoting ICAO Gender Equality Programme in conjunction with Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Initiative'.

saif.febd@gmail.com