The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) will conduct a feasibility study on the scope and benefit of integration of Bangladesh's Special Economic Zones (SEZs) with the global supply-chain.
The disclosure came when Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu met with Unctad Secretary-General Dr Mukhisa Kituyi in Geneva on Tuesday on the sidelines of the World Investment Forum (WIR) 2014, commenced with a grand opening ceremony on Monday, reports BSS.
The Unctad has been supporting Bangladesh in preparing an investment policy. Referring to the policy, Dr Kituyi said once implemented, the policy would help Bangladesh make significant progress in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).
Citing that Bangladesh government had already developed an efficient and fast growing private sector, which is capable of accommodating large-scale FDI, the industries minister informed the Unctad chief that the government has also been working on developing 18 SEZs to attract and promote more FDI, said an official handout received in the city on Tuesday.
According to the Unctad's World Investment Report 2014, Bangladesh made significant growth in FDI inflows, which rose from US$1.30 billion in 2012 to about $1.60 billion in 2013.
The minister mentioned that the government has been offering special facilities to the foreign investors particularly who are investing in the country's infrastructure sector.
For example, he referred to the government's initiatives to encourage the Public Private Partnership (PPP) and joint venture projects between foreign investors and the country's private sector.
The minister sought continuous support from the Unctad in expediting industrial growth through promoting sustainable investment.
The issues of strengthening of bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation among Unctad member countries to help increase industrial investment and technology transfer were also discussed at the meeting.
The Unctad chief lauded the recent progress in the field of Bangladesh economy.
The industries minister is leading an eight-member delegation to the four-day biennial WIF. The delegation includes Board of Investment (BoI) Executive Chairman Syed Abdus Samad, Bangladesh Ambassador to Switzerland M Shameem Ahsan and high officials of the ministry of industries and foreign affairs.
The Bangladesh delegation will showcase the progress in the fields of economy and social sectors, which the country made in the recent time with effective initiatives of the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The delegation will also share the country's views and activities with regard to promoting investment and drive development when the industries minister will attend a discussion on financing for the sustainable development goals on the concluding day of the WIF tomorrow (Thursday).
Organised by the Unctad, the WIF brought together heads of state, government authorities, top brasses of corporations and private sector stakeholders to lunch new initiatives in the area of investment for development.
