The Prime Minister wants to know what problems businessmen are facing, said Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.
"We have heard about various problems of businessmen in Bangladesh in the past few days, and the Prime Minister wanted to hear their problems from the businessmen. A note has been taken of their words. Many problems have been resolved, many are pending, and they will be resolved through discussions."
He made these remarks after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's meeting with top business leaders at the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon on Saturday afternoon.
Stating that the energy crisis has put pressure on the country's economy, the Finance Minister said that businessmen have talked about government support for entrepreneurs in using renewable energy or solar power.
Noting that businessmen have demanded the introduction of e-visas for foreign travelers, he said that measures should be taken so that foreign investors can easily come to Bangladesh without hassle at the airport.
He further said, “The businessmen have emphasized on reducing the interest rate on bank loans, reforming the National Bank of Bangladesh (NBR) and increasing the tax base without imposing tax burden on specific businessmen.”
The Finance Minister said that they have called for facilitating the process of obtaining licenses to encourage medium-sized entrepreneurs to export and opening deep sea ports to speed up import-export and trade.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held his first formal meeting with top business leaders on Saturday to boost the country's investment climate and address the existing crisis in the industrial sector. The meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office is being seen as the beginning of a new dialogue between the government and the private sector.
Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir were present at the meeting. In addition, top entrepreneurs representing various industrial sectors also participated in it.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
