DHAKA: Urging the businesspeople to set up industries by giving special attention to waste management and environment, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reassured them of extending all sorts of support.
The premier was addressing as the chief guest the National Export Trophy for 2016-17 fiscal year distribution function at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on Sunday (September 1) afternoon.
The Commerce Ministry and the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) jointly organised the programme chaired by Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi.
Referring to those who have made bad comments about independence of Bangladesh at different times, the premier said, “Bangladesh has set such an example of development that Pakistanis who are exploiting the Bengali nation are now compelled to praise Bangladesh saying 'Hamko Bangladesh Bana Do'.”
PM Hasina called on the businesspeople to work for boosting export trade by creating new markets and diversifying products and to add new products to country's export basket.
“Creating new markets and diversifying goods are very important for increasing export. You've to know the demands of various countries and produce your products in line with that...you've to grab new markets,” she said.
“Our government is business-friendly government. We always remain beside the businesspeople … they’ll do business and we’ll extend cooperation to their work,” Hasina added.
She also asked the businesspeople to look into the demands of non-traditional products across the globe alongside the export of traditional ones.
Talking about the government's directive to bring the bank loan interest rate to single digit, Hasina said some banks are already obeying the directive while some are yet to follow it.
The Prime Minister gave awards to 66 companies for their extraordinary performance in the country's export earnings. She gave away the trophies under 28 categories at the ceremony jointly organised by Commerce Ministry and Export Promotion Bureau (EPB)at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
Twenty-nine of the companies were selected for National export Trophy 2016-17 gold trophy, 21 for silver and 16 for bronze ones.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Commerce Ministry Tofail Ahmed was present at the function as the special guest, while FBCCI President Sheikh Fazley Fahim and Commerce Ministry’s Senior Secretary Mafizul Islam also spoke.
BDST: 1921 HRS, SEP 1, 2019
RS/SMS