The two other obstacles are electricity and gas crises, and lack of adequate experienced and knowledgeable entrepreneurs, he mentioned while replying to a question from independent MP Abdul Matin (Moulvibazar-2).
To overcome the obstacles, the minister said, the government has taken various steps, including modernisation of worn-out industries and institutions, simplification of loan conditions, formation of a special fund for industrial loan and setting up of new industrial estates, economic zones and hi-tech parks.
Besides, he said, the government has taken initiatives for providing technical education to youths, reducing import duty on industrial raw materials, giving gas and power connections to industries and factories under a special arrangement and formulation of industry-friendly National Industrial Policy, 2016 having provisions of giving various incentives to foreign entrepreneurs.
The minister said dynamism has come in the industrial sector with the good industrial growth following various steps taken by the government.
Replying to another question by Awami League MP Didarul Alam (Chattogram-4), State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) brought 62,244 villages fully and 14,647 villages partly under electricity coverage.
He said 6,928 villages under the jurisdiction of BREB still remain out of electricity coverage.
The state minister said the government is implementing 15 projects to bring all the 83,819 villages under the jurisdiction of BERB under full electricity coverage by installing 84,000 kilometers of distribution lines.