DCCI, BIDA team up to ease online services

Hopes high about better position in ease of doing business index

FE Team | Published: August 23, 2020 23:13:39

FE DESK
Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Sunday for integration of services with BIDA's One Stop Services (OSS).
The OSS is an online facilitation mechanism that aims to bring relevant agencies and stakeholders together, coordinated and streamlined, to provide efficient and transparent services to the investors.
Director General-5 (Joint Secretary) of BIDA Md. Wahidul Islam and Secretary General (Acting), DCCI Afsarul Arifeen signed the document on behalf of their respective organisations. Secretary from the Prime Minister's Office Md. Tofazzel Hossain Miah was present on the occasion as the chief guest.
DCCI and BIDA also signed the MoU with the Ministry of Land, Department of Environment and RAJUK. 13 services will be provided online through these four organisations.
DCCI, according to the MoU, will provide two services which are issuing certificate of origin and membership certificate. In total 154 services through 35 organisations will be provided under the OSS. Meanwhile, using the OSS five companies got registration approval.
Secretary, PMO, Md. Tofazzel Hossain Miah also thanked DCCI for signing the MoU with BIDA as one of the largest voices of private sector in Bangladesh. He said for starting a business, license and certification are two important things and through the OSS these services will be available in a hassle- free manner. He believes that this initiative will create confidence and build trust among the business community and the investors. He also underscored the importance of maintaining coordination between public and private sector to expedite quality and quantitative investments in the country.
During the function, BIDA Executive Chairman Md. Sirazul Islam thanked DCCI for being on board with BIDA's initiative as the forefront of Bangladesh's private sector. He also said that there are three components- like process, time and cost that are very important in ease of doing business index. By implementing OSS, process, time and cost will automatically come down, he said. Using digital platform will ease process and it will help remove corruptions as well. The OSS app is mobile compatible and there is an option of feedback to monitor its activities.
During the signing ceremony, DCCI President Shams Mahmud said it is a milestone and DCCI is honoured to be the first private sector organisation in Bangladesh to be associated with BIDA by signing this MoU. The OSS will open up a new window of opportunity to both local and foreign investors and the initiative will help improve Bangladesh's position in the Ease of Doing Business index, he said. Effective implementation of OSS will enhance employment generation, boost economic development, growth and help attain the dream of becoming a developed nation by 2041. Shams Mahmud also said that DCCI will work hand in hand with the government and BIDA to contribute in fulfilling the dream of building 'Digital Bangladesh' and attain the target of becoming a developed nation by 2041.
Land Secretary Md. Muksodur Rahman Patwary and Environment Secretary Ziaul Hassan, ndc also spoke on the occasion. They both congratulated DCCI as the first private sector representative to sign this MoU with BIDA. Land Secretary informed that export oriented industries now get the opportunity of having their land mutation within 7 working days. Environment Secretary said digital initiative like OSS will usher trade and investment opportunity in future which will boost employment generation.