BD needs multi-pronged approach for building trillion-dollar economy

Dhaka: The Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) organised the first monthly luncheon meeting to periodically engage leaders on Bangladesh's investment, trade and commerce related possibilities and opportunities at a hotel in the capital on January 24.

Dr Atiur Rahman, Emeritus Professor of University of Dhaka and Former Governor of Bangladesh Bank presented the keynote paper on “Towards a Trillion Dollar Economy of Bangladesh Opportunities and Challenges” at the meeting.

While delivering the keynote address, Dr Atiur said, “Bangladesh needs multi-pronged approach to set the economy right and create opportunities for building a trillion-dollar economy. With a modest 5 per cent growth rate, Bangladesh economy will touch the trillion-dollar-mark by 2040. It can do so even faster (by 2030) if a double-digit growth rate can be ensured.”

He opined that Bangladesh’s success should be attributed to its multidimensional approach to sustainable development. He emphasised on manufacturing, remittance, agriculture, inclusive financing, women empowerment and 100 per cent population under electricity coverage.

FICCI President Zaved Akhtar, in his welcome address, said, "Bangladesh has huge economic headwinds, but we will not go far by worrying about them rather we should be concerned more about the chances we miss when we didn't try when the opportunities arise in our country. FICCI Luncheons are designed to look at those economic and business opportunities so that we put our best foot forward to set our country back into the right economic trajectory.”

FICCI board of directors, CEOs of member companies, representatives of different embassies and other stakeholders were also present on the occasion.