Speakers at a discussion in Sylhet have stressed for identifying the challenges and finding out solutions to attract investment in country by the Non-Rresident Bangladeshis (NRBs), living all over the world including in the UK, the USA and other countries.
Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) organised the discussion Saturday on 'Investment by NRBs in Sylhet region: A review.' Former Bangladesh Bank (BB) governor Dr Mohammed Farashuddin, also the founder vice-chancellor (VC) of East West University, Dhaka addressed the discussion as the chief guest.
Associate Professor of Business Administration department, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Dr Fazley Elahi Md Faisal, presented the keynote paper.
SCCI president Khondaker Shiper Ahmed chaired the event while entrepreneurs, academics, leading traders and businessmen took part in discussion.
Acting VC of Sylhet International University Prof Md Manir Uddin, Metropolitan University's Pro-VC Prof Shib Prosad Sen, educationist Prof Dr Kabir H Chowdhury, Sylhet Government Mohila College Principal Hayatul Islam Akunji, SUST Associate professor Ahmed Sayem, Director of Baraka Power Limited Fahim Ahmed Chowdhury, National Krishi Award winner MA Basit, SCCI Vice-president Md Emdad Hossain, its director Ziaul Haque and Assistant Director of the Investment Development Authority Syed Md Sharfuddin also addressed.
The chief guest said different internationally reputed organisations and institutions had appreciated Bangladesh as well as its dynamic Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for 'the huge success and achievements' in different sectors during the last 10 years under her able leadership.
However, yet there are challenges in different sectors, especially in the investment arena. Setting up of a new Special Economic Zone in Sylhet region would bring new era in the regional economy as well as in the national level, he added.
Dr Farashuddin said construction of Sylhet-Chittagong highway, four-lane Dhaka-Sylhet highway etc need to be implemented quickly.
He emphasised joint venture investment initiatives by the expats and the local entrepreneurs. He said we all should project the country in a way so that they could attract more and more NRB investments.
Dr Farashuddin said such initiatives would help us all motivating the NRBs for investing in Sylhet region and other regions of the country.
The speakers said contribution of the NRBs is notable both at home and abroad. Now we would have to explore their expertise at home in a big way.
The speakers appealed to the government for arranging one stop service for the NRB investors. Some of them focused on the probable market in the north-eastern region of the Indian seven-sister states from Sylhet region.