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PRAN-RFL group wins six trophies for its export prowess
PRAN-RFL Group has secured the highest national export trophies for its outstanding contribution to export segment for FY 2018-19.
This business giant received six trophies, including gold, out of the 71 companies nominated for the trophies, from the Commerce Ministry for exporting agro processing, plastic goods and light engineering sectors.
Though this group secured five export trophies in 2016-17 and 2017-18, each, this time they broke its own record and got the highest six trophies.
Read more: PRAN-RFL targets $2 billion export by 2030
Moreover, the concerned Commerce Ministry awarded export trophy to the Group as the highest exporter for the last 18 consecutive years.
Minister for Commerce Tipu Munshi awarded the trophies among the winning organisations at a function at Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal on Tuesday, as chief guest.
Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman and CEO of PRAN-RFL Group, received the award on behalf of PRAN Dairy while Uzma Chowdhury, director (corporate finance) at the group and Eleash Mridha, managing director of PRAN Group received the award on behalf of PRAN Agro and PRAN Foods respectively.
Therefore, RN Paul, managing director of RFL group received the award on behalf of Rangpur Metal and Toukirul Islam, executive director of Durable Plastic and Mohammad Kazi Abdul Quiyum, executive director of Banga Plastic International received the award on behalf their organizations.
PRAN-RFL Group, the country’s leading food manufacturer and exporter, started exporting its products to France in 1997. At present, the group is exporting it wide range of products to 145 countries in the globe.
Read more: Pran-RFL launches food delivery service Foodano
PRAN-RFL has a big market in India and Middle East countries and also available in Africa, Europe and North & South America region.
Initiatives taken to establish fair price shops for RMG workers
Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), a Switzerland-based international development organisation, has come forward with consultancy assistance to set up shops at RMG factories to sell goods at comparatively lower prices to the workers.
Under the initiative, about 80,000 people (20,000 female workers and 60,000 family members) are likely to get benefits.
This announcement came at a kick-off meeting titled ‘RMG Workers’ Access to Affordable Nutritious and Safe Food’ at a hotel in the capital on Tuesday.
Read more: BGMEA for more partnerships between Bangladesh, Germany to unlock trade, investment potential
GAIN organised the meeting with the participation of partner organizations and stakeholders to chalk out future strategy on technical assistance and how to make the initiative success.
Mohammad Ehsan-E-Elahi, secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, attended the meeting as chief guest while Moniruzzaman Bipul, portfolio lead of GAIN Bangladesh, delivered the welcome address and GM Reza Sumon, manager of workforce nutrition project of GAIN Bangladesh, presented the keynote paper.
With Dr Rudaba Khondker, country director of GAIN Bangladesh, in the chair at the meeting where Dr Hasan Shariar Kabir, director general of Bangladesh National Nutrition Council and Faruque Hassan, president of BGMEA, among others spoke at the event.
It was shared at the meeting that the project aims at ensuring access to nutritious foods for RMG workers with affordable prices and strengthening the food marketing management.
It also aims at working for ensuring nutritious and safe foods for RMG workers so that they can play more productive role for production in the RMG sector.
Praising the initiative, Mohammad Ehsan-E-Elahi called for the expansion of such facility to other factories across the country.
Speakers said it is imperative to give priority to the issue of safe and nutritious food for the workers, for implementing the government’s Perspective Plan 2021-2041 and achieving SDGs.
The speakers called upon those involved in production, processing, supply and marketing of foods to establish fair price shops with nutritious foods at factory areas along with encouraging the workers to take such foods.
Read more: Bangladesh to stay safe, sustainable apparel sourcing destination: BGMEA
Mentionable, several shops have so far been set up at two factories at Ashulia and Gazipur with the support of GAIN. About 15,000 RMG workers along with their family members are entitled to buy essentials from those shops with a special discount.
BGMEA chief for intensifying collaboration with S Africa to reap mutual benefits
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has said Bangladesh and South Africa have the opportunity to widen avenues of mutual trade and investment through intensifying bilateral cooperation and engagement.
More effective discussions and interaction between the both countries would help to explore many potential areas of mutual benefits, he observed.
His remarks came during a luncheon meeting with Candith Mashego-Dlamini, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation in South Africa on Tuesday.
Read more: BGMEA seeks uninterrupted energy supply by special arrangements
The luncheon meeting was hosted by Md. Shahriar Alam, MP, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, in honor of Deputy Minister Mashego-Dlamini at the stateguest house Padma in Dhaka.
Various trade related issues including possible areas and ways of expanding trade between Bangladesh and South Africa were discussed in the meeting.
They also had discussions about how Bangladesh could increase RMG exports to the South African market.
The possible ways of sharing technological know-how for mutual benefits got due importance in the meeting.
Read more: BGMEA, GarmentTechBD to collaborate in improving supply chain management skills
Nahim Razzaq, MP, Member of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh, Cedrick C. Crowley, Minister Plenipotentiary, South African High Commission to India New Delhi, India, and P. Mokazi, Director Technical Specialist, Office of Deputy Minister Mashego-Dlamini were also present at the meeting.
Padakhep customers now can pay loan instalments, savings through Nagad
Padakhep Manabik Unnayan Kendra, a non-government organisation, has partnered with Nagad, a mobile financial service of Bangladesh Postal Department, to facilitate payments of loan instalments and savings for its customers.
An agreement in this regard was recently signed between the two organisations at Nagad’s head office in the capital’s Banani.
Read more: Nagad Islamic, Islami Bank team up for seamless financial services
Customers of Padakhep Manabik Unnayan Kendra’s all branches across the country can pay microcredit instalments and deposit savings weekly or monthly via the Nagad app or USSD *167# or Nagad Uddokta from anywhere and at any time, according to a press release.
On behalf of Nagad, Sheikh Aminur Rahman, chief business officer, Mohammad Mahbub Sobhan, head of the Payment Division, Tanvir Chowdhury, head of the MFI and Government Sales Operation Department, and Key Account Manager Hasna Mohsin were present at the contract signing ceremony.
On the other hand, Executive Director Md Saleh bin Sums, Director (Microfinance, Program and Enterprise) Muhammad Risalat Siddique, Deputy Director Abul Kalam Azad, Senior Assistant Director Shafiqul Islam and Senior Manager Md Emdadul Haque represented Padakhep Manabik Unnayan Kendra at the event.
Under this partnership, the unbanked people of remote areas can easily avail of digital financial services, and small and medium entrepreneurs will also be able to make necessary transactions in quick time from anywhere without facing any kind of hassle.
Read more: Nagad holds workshop to promote breast cancer awareness
Sheikh Aminur Rahman, the chief business officer of Nagad, said, “Nagad has already brought about revolutionary changes in the country’s financial sector. This deal with Padakhep will allow marginalised people to repay their microcredit instalments as well as make savings deposits more conveniently through Nagad.”
Nagad will never ask for a secret PIN or OTP from any customers with respect to any payments – be it loan instalments or savings deposits – to Padakhep Manabik Unnayan Kendra. So, the secret PIN or OTP can never be shared with anyone.
Technological innovations crucial for competitiveness, sustainability of Bangladesh's industrialisation: BGMEA
Technology will be a crucial part of the next stage of industrialisation in Bangladesh when it comes to sustainability, competitiveness and creating decent employment, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has said.
"Technological innovations are imperative not only to enhance competitiveness but also to make businesses sustainable," BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said at the Leadership Summit hosted by the Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum in Dhaka Monday.
Education Minister Dipu Moni attended the event as chief guest. Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman and Disaster Management and Relief State Minister Md Enamur Rahman were present as special guests.
Sheikh Fazle Fahim, chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum, was also present.
Read: Nagad Islamic, Islami Bank team up for seamless financial services
Faruque said sustainability and digitalisation are interlinked and greatly complement each other. "Smart supply chain management is a great way to become resource efficient, environment friendly, and cost competitive in the long run."
"Without the use of technologies, optimum use of water, energy and other resources cannot be ensured. So, we need to inspire the use of fourth-generation technologies in our supply chain."
"As much as we are saying automation is important, we are equally concerned about jobs and livelihoods. If efficiency and competitiveness can be enhanced, it will certainly generate more business, which would require more employment in labour-intensive manufacturing," the BGMEA president said.
Read: Students, professionals receive BGMEA's Sustainable Design and Innovation Award
Ichiguchi Tomohide, chief representative of JICA Bangladesh; Young-ah Doh, country director, KOICA Bangladesh; Habibullah N Karim, founder and CEO, Technohaven; Sonia Bashir Kabir, managing director, SBK Ventures; Anil Sooklal, ambassador at large, Asia and BRICS, South Africa; and Nokuthula Nokky Ndlovu, managing director, Projectized Management, also spoke at the session as panellists, which was moderated by Syed Ferhat Anwar, professor, University of Dhaka.
IBTRA holds executive development programme
The Islami Bank Training and Research Academy (IBTRA) organised an executive development programme online Saturday.
Mohammed Monirul Moula, managing director and chief executive officer of Islami Bank Bangladesh, spoke at the "Customer services and compliant management" as chief guest, according to a media statement.
Read: Nagad Islamic, Islami Bank team up for seamless financial services
Mohammad Zahir Hussain, director of the Financial Integrity and Customer Services Department of the Bangladesh Bank, spoke as the key discussant.
Islami Bank Bangladesh additional managing directors Mohammad Qaisar Ali and JQM Habibullah also spoke at the programme. SM Rabiul Hassan, principal of IBTRA, presided over it.
Islami Bank is a joint venture public limited company engaged in commercial banking business based on Islamic shariah.
Established in 1983 as the first Islamic bank in Southeast Asia, it is listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange and Chittagong Stock Exchange.
Nagad Islamic, Islami Bank team up for seamless financial services
Mobile financial service (MFS) provider Nagad and Islami Bank Bangladesh have teamed up to help customers make seamless financial transactions – from add-money to DPS instalments to remittance transfers – through their Nagad wallets.
Also, customers will be able to avail of Nagad and Nagad Islamic services using Islami Bank's CellFin app.
The MFS provider and Islami Bank recently struck a partnership agreement at a city hotel. Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar, Managing Director and CEO of Islami Bank Muhammad Munirul Maula, Founder and Managing Director of Nagad Tanvir A Mishuk were present at the ceremony.
Read: BCMEA to host 3-day International Ceramic Expo from Nov 24
From now on, users can add money to their Nagad and Nagad Islamic wallets instantly from their Islami Bank accounts without any charge. Also, they can pay DPS instalments to Islami Bank as well as transfer remittances to Nagad accounts.
Jabbar said: "Today we are happy that an institution like Nagad has partnered with Islami Bank. Nagad's collaboration with Islami Bank has also set a good example to others."
Munirul Maula said: "Nagad has onboarded 6.5 crore customers only in three and a half years. It has introduced Islamic services, which is the need of the hour."
Tanvir Mishuk said: "I thank Islami Bank for beginning a journey with Nagad. Banks cannot take services to people’s doorsteps, but platforms like Nagad can do that. We want to give smart cards to our 6.5 crore customers next year."
Customers will get a Tk30 mobile recharge if they make an add-money transaction of Tk3,550 to their Nagad and Nagad Islamic wallets from Islami Bank accounts. A customer will be able to enjoy this offer once. The offer will remain valid till November 30.
Nagad has been expanding the scope of its "Bank to Nagad" add-money service to provide consumers with "faster and improved services." Internet banking users can instantly transfer money to their Nagad accounts without any charge.
Nagad customers now can avail of the add-money service from more than 30 banks.
No liquidity crisis in banks: ABB
The Association of Bankers, Bangladesh (ABB) has also raised its voice regarding rumors on the liquidity crisis in banks.
The ABB Chairman Salim RF Hossain said, "We have noticed a lot of rumors about liquidity in the country's banks recently in social media.”
Rumors are spreading that customers are facing problems in withdrawing cash. Citing social media sources this negative news is spreading confusion in the country and abroad.
Read more: Bangladesh Bank forms Tk 5000cr refinance scheme to ensure food security
“This rumor is being spread, especially among our expatriates abroad, so that they are discouraged from sending remittances through legitimate channels. These are very sad. These rumors are harming our customers, society, and country,” he said.
Salim also said, 'We would like to say on behalf of ABB that these so-called facts have no basis and truth. Currently, there is enough money in the banks. We want to assure customers that their money is completely safe in the banks. There is no reason to worry about this. We would request customers not to believe rumors.”
‘Rich countries ignoring proposals regarding LDC graduation’
Speakers at a discussion meeting said the proposals that had been placed in the 12th ministerial conference (MC-12) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva were not getting prioritised due to the negligence of developed countries.
They gave the opinion at a discussion titled “WTO-MC12 Outcomes: Next Steps for Bangladesh as a Graduating LDC”, organised by CPD in partnership with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Bangladesh, held at the CIRDAP conference hall on Sunday.
They said Bangladesh is the only country that has adequately utilised the opportunities available as an LDC.
The speakers said the country has increased exports using preferential market facilities, but the question now is whether such opportunities will continue.
They said the announcement of MC-12 mentions several challenges after graduation, but no promises were made to overcome them.
Read: Global trade will grow a lackluster 1% in 2023, WTO predicts
CPD’s distinguished fellow professor Dr. Mustafizur Rahman presented a keynote paper on the topic, highlighting that the demands of least developed countries have been ignored in the WTO-MC12. The conference prioritised important agenda for developed and wealthy countries.
Dr. Mustafizur said the main agenda of Bangladesh is the LDC graduation.
“Most of the six countries with earlier graduations are small economies. Bangladesh is a country that was able to take maximum advantage. But many benefits will be lost after graduation from the LDC. Almost 90 percent of the benefits in the export sector will not be there for Bangladesh,” he said.
He said if export performance is to be sustained and improved, shifting from the choice-driven competition to efficiency and productivity-driven competition is very vital.
He said that the government should set up a separate and dedicated cell to exclusively discuss and secure Bangladesh's interests in international trade platforms.
Read: WTO Conference: Bangladesh speaks against sudden ban on food export
He also said that because of the negligence of the rich countries, the graduating countries weaken.
“We need to change our mindset considering the future as non-LDC developing country. Priority should be given to issues related to regional cooperation and bilateral trade agreements,” Dr. Mustafiz said.
Yussuf Abdullah Harun, MP, Member, Standing Committee on Ministry of Commerce, was present as chief guest while Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow of CPD, chaired the programme.
Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Md. Jashim Uddin, President, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI), Hafizur Rahman, Director General, WTO Cell of Ministry of Commerce, and Dr. Mostafa Abid Khan, Trade specialist and former Member of Bangladesh Tariff and Trade Commission, Felix Kolbitz, Resident Representative of FES spoke at the event.
Women entrepreneurs repay loans in most cases: Commerce Minister
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has said he is confident that bank loans given to women entrepreneurs are repaid in 99 percent cases.
“They don’t run away with the money like the others, at least,” he said.
The commerce minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at an event on the occasion of International Women's Entrepreneurship Day and 5th founding anniversary of Women Entrepreneurs Network for Development Association (WEND) at Gulshan Shooting Club Auditorium on Saturday (November 19) night.
Tipu Munshi said, “We should support our women entrepreneurs. The path for women will not be easy. But they must go forward with courage.”
Read: Sugar prices to be stable soon, says Commerce Minister
"We will take initiative to ensure market access for women entrepreneurs," Munshi said.
Jasim Uddin, President of FBCCI, said that women entrepreneurs face obstacles in getting loans. FBCCI is negotiating with Bangladesh Bank so that they can get loans easily.
"We have opened a wing on behalf of FBCCI to provide business support to new entrepreneurs. All information can be found in that wing. We focus on innovation and creating new designs for women entrepreneurs," he added.
European Union Ambassador in Dhaka, Charles Whiteley, said that it is necessary to ensure that women can easily get bank loans to do business.
"I recently visited Chattogram and Rangamati. Many women there said they have business ideas," he said.
But they do not own any land. So they are not able to use the land as collateral, and as a result, they are not getting loans, he added.
WEND President Dr. Nadia Binte Amin, USAID Feed the Future Bangladesh Trade Activity Chief Mark Shaiman, Export Readiness Fund (ERF) Program Team Leader Dave Runganaikaloo, also spoke at the function.
Read: Target $100 bn export earnings by 2026: Commerce Minister
At the event, WEND presented the 'Special Women's Empowerment Award' to Bangladesh Export Development Bureau (EPB) for taking important steps in empowering women entrepreneurs.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi handed over the award to EPB Vice Chairman AH Ahsan.