The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry will organise an international conference in the capital next week to discuss the future of Bangladesh's economy and potential sectors of investment.
Hossain Khaled, president of the chamber, announced the details of the event at a press conference at his chamber office in Dhaka yesterday.
The conference -- New Economic Thinking: Bangladesh 2030 and Beyond -- will take place at Radisson Hotel on December 21. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the conference to be attended by scholars, economists and trade analysts from home and abroad.
Experts will discuss five major issues -- energy, water and land resources management, infrastructure, sustainable development goals and the next billion dollar opportunities in Bangladesh.
“This is a timely discussion as we need innovative thinking to attract investment and create jobs. We have to think about our development for the next 100 years and for our next generation,” Khaled said.
Bangladesh is losing at least 2.5 percent of its gross domestic product every year to weak infrastructure, he said.
“So, we need to overcome this infrastructure bottleneck. At the same time, we need development that protects the environment and eco-system.”
He said the government has identified 32 thrust sectors that have the prospect to export products and services worth billions of dollars.
Apart from the garment sector, which accounts for 80 percent of export earnings, the DCCI has identified several other sectors that also have export potential.
The prospective areas are backward linkage industries in the garment sector, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, ICT, automotive, leather and footwear, agro-processing and plastic.
The daylong conference will include seminars that will discuss investment potential in the country. The participants will recommend measures that will help attract investors, Khaled said.
The DCCI will forward the recommendations of the event to the prime minister for the government's consideration.