Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi inaugurated today (Saturday) the National Committee Secretariat of International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh (ICCB)-The World Business Organization at Gulshan, according to a statement.
In his inaugural address, Mr Munshi appreciated the role played by the business community in the overall development of the country and making Bangladesh today the fastest growing economy in the world.
He wished that the business community together with the public sector will continue to work to fulfill the vision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in making Bangladesh a developed country by 2041.
He congratulated ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman, members of the Executive Board as well as the members patrons in setting up a state-of-the-art secretariat and expressed his hope that in future ICC Bangladesh will play same positive role for further development of the country.
The minister also launched ICCB Business Directory which contains basic information about Bangladesh, information for trade and investment and foreign direct investment (FDI). The first directory was published in 2008.
ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman in his welcome address said that ICCB started its journey at a small office located on the premises of DCCI, and with 17 members.
Today, ICCB has 10 chambers of commerce and business association members under Organisation Category (FBCCI, DCCI, MCCI, CCCI, FICCI, BAB, BIA, BGMEA, BKMEA and BTMA) and 128 members under Corporate Category (31 commercial banks, 7 non-banking financial institutions, 10 insurance companies, 5 law firms, 56 national companies and 19 transnational companies).
Mr. Rahman mentioned that ICCB had so far organised seven international and regional conferences which were attended by heads of state, heads of governments, ministers, heads of international agencies, business leaders, professionals and experts from home and abroad. The latest conference was held on December 10-12, 2019. The President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Abdul Hamid inaugurated the conference, he noted.
Mahbubur Rahman acknowledged ICCB Founding Vice President Late Latifur Rahman, A K Azad, Kutubuddin Ahmed, Anwar ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), Tapan Chowdhury. ASM. Quasem and Md Fazlul Haque played the key role in mobilising the resources for buying new office premises.
ICCB Vice President AK Azad in his vote of thanks recalled the role played by founding ICCB Vice President Latifur Raman for his guidance and continuous support to ICC Bangladesh in carrying out his various activities since the National Secretariat was set up in 1994.
He thanked the commerce minister for inaugurating the new secretariat and for his assurance in extending full support of his ministry to the business community. He also thanked the members and patrons for attending the inaugural ceremony.
The inaugural ceremony among others were attended by Apex Group Chairman Syed Manzur Elahi, former foreign minister Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Pubali Bank Chairman Monzurur Rahman, IPDC Chairman Md Abdul Karim, Director of A.K. Khan & Company Limited Salahuddin Kasem Khan, ICCB executive board members Abdul Hai Sarker, ASM Quasem, Aftab ul Islam, Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), Faruque Hassan, Kutubuddin Ahmed, Mahbubul Alam, Md Fazlul Hoque, Mir Nasir Hossain, Mohammad Hatem, Simeen Rahman, Tapan Chowdhury and managing directors/ CEOs of commercial banks, national and multinational companies.