BCI, being the sole national industrial chamber across the country, should take necessary role in identifying and resolving the impediments being faced in the smooth growth of the local industries and economic development, said BCI President on Saturday.
The remarks were made in the 33rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI), held at the Board Room of BCI, Dilkusa in the capital.
President of Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI), Anwar-ulAlam Chowdhury (Parvez) presided over the meeting while Directors and General Members of BCI including Mostofa Azad Cowdhury Babu, former President, Shahedul Islam Helal, Former President, Md. Helal Uddin, Sr. Vice-President & Priti Chakraborty, Vice-President, BCI attended the AGM among others.
The President read out the Annual Report of BCI for 2018-2019 and thanked all for the whole-hearted support made by the Directors and General Members including the Sr. Vice-President & Vice-President to the BCI and expressed hope that such cooperation and cordial support will continue in the coming years so that the Chamber can galvanize the hopes and aspirations of General Members for promotion of their Business Activities.
The Members present, in their reaction, highlighted on different issues of VAT, Tax, Bank Interest, one stop service and export-import related problems that they face and sought help from the Chamber in solving them.
While addressing, the President assured that he will take necessary initiatives to resolve these pertinent issues. He said Bangladesh economy largely depends on RMG &Textile, Foreign Remittance and Agriculture production, but in order to ensure sustainable economic growth offer graduating from LDC, we have to lessen our dependence on RMG and Textile providing more focus on potentially-viable sectors like Light Engineering, Agro Based Industry, Halal Products, Blue Economy, Leather Goods Etc.
"The global market for Light Engineering is $ 7 trillion, whereas Bangladesh exports only $ 319.4 million and the domestic market is already $8.2 billion whereas we can cater to only $ 3.1 Billion. Similarly the global market for Agro-Processing products is $ 1.6 trillion, whereas Bangladesh exports only$ 908million in 2018-2019", he added.
The BCI President informed the meeting that, the Chamber has already started initiatives for new entrepreneurship, development of Micro and Small Industries side by side with emphasis on Light Engineering and Agro Processing Industry. He further informed that BCI already had a successful meeting with all the districts chambers of the Rangpur Division including Rangpur and Also with Bangladesh Agro-Processors' Association (BAPA) & Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association (BEIOA).
To be consistent with this trend, BCI intends to hold similar discussion meetings with all District Chambers of Rajshahi, Khulna & Barisal Division in the coming months of the next year.
The Meeting had in-depth discussion on fixed agenda including the Audited Report for 2018-2019 and unanimously approved it.
