In a major boost to the country’s economy, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has assured the Bangladesh government of investing in a huge way in the private sector to shape it stupendously to create more employments.
“IFC will increase investment in private sector. It has already announced to invest $1000 billion in private sectors across the world. Private companies in Bangladesh can take the financial support of the IFC which will create more jobs,” Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said this at a press briefing after a series of meetings with the World Bank and the United States Agency for International Development in Washington on Friday, said a press release issued by the Finance Ministry on Saturday.
However, the Finance Minister hoped that the biggest investment would come from the leading lending agency the World Bank as it wants to give us more loans for the development of the country.
The WB and other lending agencies who met with us during this visit have recognized that Bangladesh is on the right track, a rewarding opinion for the country.
The Finance Minister is visiting Washington to attend the annual meeting of WB and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
One of the meetings on Friday was held with a delegation led by IFC's Regional Vice-President Snezana Stoiljkovic, followed by another one with Deputy Governor of Japan Bank for International Cooperation Nobumitsu Hayashi.
Kamal said the interest rate of IFC loans would be less than 10 percent. He said the USAID has expressed interest in assisting the Bangladesh government to increase its income tax collection capacity, he added.
Besides, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation has also expressed keen interest to invest in Bangladesh," Mustafa Kamal also said.
About road safety, the Finance Minister said, the government has taken several steps in this regard such as the Road Safety Act.
"We have already passed The Road Safety Act. Moreover, roads are being upgraded into four lanes and six lanes, and service lanes are being set up for local vehicles alongside those roads. Restrooms are also being built for drivers," he added.