Experts at a workshop on Sunday underscored the need for developing economic corridor in the country as it is essential for achieving goals, including Vision-2021, Vision-2041 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reports BSS.
They said this at the workshop on “ADB Consults Stakeholders on Northeast Bangladesh Economic Corridor Development” at Sonargaon Hotel in the city. Planning Minister Muhammad Abdul Mannan attended the workshop as the chief guest while Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman and Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs) Md Abul Kalam Azad were present as special guests.
Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Sirazul Islam chaired the meeting while ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Resident Mission Manmohan Parkash co-chaired the event. Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) conducted the consultation workshop.
Mannan emphasised on accelerating the process of project implementation as it is essential for achieving the development goals. “So, we will have to identify the problems on the way of project implementation and solve the problems as early as possible,” he added. Salman F Rahman said the government is establishing 100 economic zones across the country for generating more employment and alleviating poverty. “We want to become a developed country by 2041. So, we will have to develop all parts of the country,” he added.
Manmohan Parkash said the economic corridor development can help achieve the government’s goal of eliminating extreme poverty and becoming an upper middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2041. He highlighted the advantages of northeast region of Bangladesh with rich endowments of resources and strategic location.
He further emphasized the need for comprehensive economic corridor development for coordinated and holistic development of industry, infrastructure and urban and rural areas. “The study will identify promising industries in the region and propose infrastructure and urban services needs for planned industrial development, offering solutions for inclusive and regionally balanced high economic growth,” said Manmohan Parkash.
Over 130 participants including government officials, development experts, researchers and development partner representatives attended the workshop, which discussed matters about Northeast Bangladesh Economic Corridor (NEBEC) development prior to launching a study for detailing development priorities of the region.