The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) believes that our private sector is facing various problems including devaluation of Taka, high inflation, lack of foreign exchange reserves, high interest rate of bank loans and obstacles in opening loans.
Ashraf Ahmed, president of the organization, said these things at the exchange meeting titled ‘Business Process Facilitation: Perspectives of International Trade’ organized by DCCI on Tuesday (October 15).
The president of Dhaka Chamber said that the contribution of international trade to our GDP is about 25 percent. However, in order to increase this rate further, it is necessary to increase the automation of port and customs operations, increase logistics facilities, reduce the incoordination of related government agencies, improve the balance of payment conditions, increase foreign reserves and reduce the interest rate of bank loans logically.
While presenting the main article of the program, President of Dhaka Chamber Ashraf Ahmed also said that in recent times, our private sector is facing various problems including devaluation of money, high inflation, lack of foreign currency reserves, high interest rate of bank loans and obstacles in opening loans.
Apart from this, Ashraf Ahmed pointed out that our business costs are constantly increasing due to the imposition of various types of fines and procedural complications in the importation of the port.
He pointed out that the government is setting an export target of 57.5 billion for the fiscal year 2025, to achieve this target and increase overall exports, automation and facilitation of operations at all our ports, ensuring modern facilities, skills training of C&F agents, port and customs house personnel. Emphasis should be placed on growth, improvement of land, rail and water connectivity with ports, increase in foreign exchange reserves to facilitate international transaction process.
Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh Member (Finance) SM Lovelur Rahman, Chittagong Port Authority Member (Harbor and Marine) Commodore M Fazlur Rahman, Mongla Port Authority Deputy Secretary (Director, Traffic) Md. Kamal Hossain, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce (WTO Division) Dr. Farhana Irish and supervising engineer of Bangladesh Land Port Authority. Hasan Ali participated.
Lovelur Rahman said, due to the lack of coordination of the government agencies as well as the private institutions engaged in the port, in many cases the import-export process of goods is observed to be lengthy. The third terminal of Shahjalal International Airport will increase its cargo capacity by 2-3 times and 3 more cargo villages will be established there. Airports are in the process of taking specific time-based measures to facilitate the clearance process.
Member of Chittagong Port Authority (Harbor and Marine) Commodore M. Fazlur Rahman, who joined the program virtually, said that due to the lack of coordination of the institutions involved in the import and export of goods in Chittagong port, in many cases other obstacles are created in the port including containers, it is necessary to increase automation activities to deal with this issue.
Bangladesh Land Port Authority Supervising Engineer Md. Hasan Ali said that out of the country’s 24 land ports, 23 with India and one with Myanmar carry out commercial activities. Project activities are continuing to implement automation activities at all land ports, which will be completed within the next 2 years. Through which the revenue collection of the government will increase and businessmen will also benefit. Apart from this, if it is possible to provide scanning facilities at the land ports, the import-export process of goods will be faster.
