Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday laid emphasis on export diversification to boost earnings from the export and help grow the economy to achieve its development goals.
He mentioned value-added RMG, pharmaceutical products, plastic, leather, jute goods, shipbuilding and also skilled manpower as some of the areas of focus for export diversification.
The Foreign Minister said there is a lot of potential to increase agro products export including mangoes from Bangladesh.
"In the 8th Five Year Plan, export diversification issue had been considered in much broader spectrum," Dr Hasan said.
He said Bangladesh has made tremendous progress over the last 15 years despite challenges from a multiple fronts including negative impacts of climate change.
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"This is not just magic. This is because of magical leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," Hasan said while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar.
He described how Bangladesh became a food-grains sufficient country and how it addressed poverty issues significantly.
The Foreign Minister said the government is well aware of geopolitical issues and noted that the geopolitical scenario is evolving.
He said this situation creates both opportunities and challenges, and the government is making decisions prudently.
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Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised the international seminar on 'Economic Diversification and Global Market: Bangladesh's Opportunities and Way Forward" at the BIISS auditorium.
Abul Kalam Azad, MP and former Principal Coordinator (SDGs), Prime Minister's Office; Masud Bin Momen, Foreign Secretary; Dr Shah Md Helal Uddin, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, spoke as special guests.
Professor Dr Mohammad Jahangir Alam, Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Bangladesh Agricultural University; Dr Md Deen Islam, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Dhaka University; Professor Dr Muhammad Shahadat Hossain Siddiquee, Department of Economics, Dhaka University; and Professor Dr Rozana Rashid, Department of International Relations, Dhaka University were the discussants.
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Dr Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director, BIISS, was the keynote presenter.
Major General Abu Bakar Siddique Khan,
Director General, BIISS, delivered the welcome address.
Ambassador A F M Gousal Azam
Sarker, Chairman, BIISS, moderated and wrapped the session with his remarks.
Bangladesh’s economy has made laudable achievements over the years despite facing many challenges, said the speakers.
The country is nowadays cited as a role model when it comes to development and
has also been focusing on diversification of economy for addressing ever evolving challenges and reducing vulnerabilities, they said.
There is hardly any alternative, as grave uncertainties have been arising in global affairs in recent times and countries are doing their best to address those, they mentioned.
The Foreign Secretary informed of the
government’s “Smart Bangladesh 2041” Plan, that stresses on developing digital infrastructure; the Vision and the 5-year plan both focus on enhancing steady inflow of foreign direct investment into Bangladesh too.
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Senior officials from different government ministries, members of diplomatic community, former ambassadors, senior military officials, media, academia, researchers, faculties and students from various universities, business community and representatives from international organisations participated in the seminar.