PM Urges Stronger Public-Private Partnership for Growth

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday expressed optimism that Bangladesh's economy could undergo significant positive change within the next four to five years if the government and the private sector work together to address existing challenges.

Speaking at an interactive session with private sector entrepreneurs at the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon, the Prime Minister said cooperation between the government and businesses is essential for overcoming economic obstacles and accelerating growth.

The nearly four-hour meeting, organised by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), focused on expanding business, attracting more foreign investment and creating a more favourable environment for industrialisation.

"There are problems in some areas, but if we work together, we can overcome them," Tarique Rahman said.

He said the government's priority is to serve the country's interests and noted that both policymakers and business leaders clearly understand the challenges facing the economy.

Acknowledging that the government has been in office for less than six months, the Prime Minister said several meetings had already been held with business representatives to address sector-specific issues.

"We all recognise that there are many challenges. The government has at least shown that it is trying. We are resolving problems one by one," he said.

The Prime Minister said many concerns raised during previous consultations had already been addressed, while the issues highlighted at Saturday's meeting would also be resolved. He announced that another dialogue with business leaders would be held within the next two to three months.

"The more we sit together, the better we will understand your problems and the easier it will be to resolve them," he said, adding that continued engagement would help build a stronger economy.

During the meeting, business leaders sought easier access to credit, greater policy support and a more business-friendly environment to encourage investment and industrial expansion. They also welcomed several recent government initiatives.

Officials informed the meeting that decisions had already been taken on 21 of the 28 issues discussed during the previous consultation, while work on the remaining seven is underway.

Business leaders also presented a roadmap to increase Bangladesh's annual export earnings to US$100 billion by 2030. The government assured them of diplomatic support to help expand export markets and achieve the target.