FE Report
Bangladesh has urged the world community to invest large sum of money which remains idle globally in private sector, in developing countries to help implement their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), industries minister Amir Hossain Amu told journalists Tuesday.
The minister was talking to media about outcome of the just-concluded World Investment Forum in Geneva at his office. The officials who attended the UNCTAD investment meeting were also present at the press briefing.
The developing countries, the minister said need an annual investment of about USD 3.9 trillion to achieve the goal of sustainable development. "But the countries are getting only USD 1.4 trillion to meet their requirements."
He said that Bangladesh strongly advocated for inflows of more investment in the LDCs and the climate-vulnerable economies. "Despite having big wealth accumulated in western countries they are not investing in creative areas," said the minister.
Terming his visit successful, the minister said that they had explained various measures undertaken by his government for the country's overall development. "We have been able to prove that Bangladesh has now become an ideal destination for foreign investment," said the minister.
Industries minister Amir Hossain Amu led an 8-member Bangladesh delegation to this year's Unctad World Investment Forum in Geneva held on October 13-16. Heads of state and ministers from 50 countries along with a number of executives representing world famous business enterprises attended the 4-day world summit. Unctad Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi opened the World Leaders Investment Summit.
Besides the investment summit, the minister also took part in various important meetings and conferences including the ministerial level roundtable conference and dialogue with parliamentarians. He also held meetings with Unctad Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi and WIPO Director General Dr Francis Gurry.
The industries minister sought cooperation of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) for development of the copyright management. He also thanked the WIPO for opening auto registration of the Intellectual Property (IP) which would help entrepreneurs and innovators to make payment quickly along with design and trademark service.
The world leaders, he said praised Bangladesh for its robust economic growth and achieving millennium development goals in different fields and highlighted government development activities.
The conference was attended, among others, by Industries Secretary Mohammad Mainuddin Abdullah, Joint secretary Afroza Khan, deputy secretary Fahimul Islam and other members of the delegation.
mzrbd@yahoo.com
