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Hasina inaugurates Dhaka International Leather Fair |
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January 28, 2001
Dhaka-- (UNB) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday (Saturday) urged the private entrepreneurs to take the lead in enhancing investment and export by taking advantage of incentives offered by the government. “The government can only play a catalyst’s role in creating congenial atmosphere for investment and development of production. We’ve been working hard for this by ensuring political stability and institutionalizing democracy,” she said inaugurating a 3-day Dhaka International Leather Fair at Sonargaon Hotel. Hasina said lucrative incentives for encouraging local and foreign investment has been yielding results and increasing private investment and volume of export. Since boosting export is a major avenue of national progress in present economic scenario, she said, the export-import policy was formulated for a period of five years instead of the previous two years. Besides, the subsidy to export sector has been increased to Tk 632 crore this year from Tk 631 crore in the last fiscal year, the Prime Minister said. This is to increase export of commodities like leather goods, ready-made garments, jute goods, etc., she added. The leather sector earned US$246 million in fiscal 1999-2000 against $137 million in 1990-91. About the poor performance of leather industry, Hasina said in recent years this sector could not flourish at the desired level because of fluctuation of demand of leather and leather goods. To improve the situation, she said, cooperation has been extended to take practical steps for raising the quality of leather and diversifying their use through appropriate technology. The Prime Minister said the government has taken well-coordinated steps for diversification of leather goods and its export, production of high quality finished leather, formation of Leather Council, import of raw leather at zero tariff and credit facility for setting up industry. She hoped that Bangladeshi exporters would sustain their efforts for expanding export of leather products to survive the global competition through raising the quality of leather, leather goods and their diversification. Industries Minister Tofail Ahmed, Commerce Minister MA Jalil, Chairman of Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters’ Association (BFLLFA) MA Sattar Bhuiyan and Vice-chairman of Export Promotion Bureau AB Chowdhury also spoke at the function. Tofail Ahmed said a congenial atmosphere has been created in the country for more foreign and local investment. A 15 per cent growth has been made in the industrial sector following practical steps of the government, he said. MA Jalil said 10 per cent cash subsidy and duty-free import of leather were provided to encourage the leather industry. About various problems facing this sector, he said development of technology, increased technical skill and diversified production could improve and expand the sector. The Commerce Minister said the country’s export has increased to US$575 crore in 2000 from $388 crore in 1996 because of the government’s incentives and realistic policy. Later, the Prime Minister went round different stalls at the Fair, organised by the EPB and the BFLLEFA. |