Pharma companies brace for new phase

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Pharma companies brace for new phase
Analysts suggest innovations as patent looms on generic drugs

Sayeda Akter

Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies should prepare to maintain growth in local sales and exports and remain competitive in the post-2016 period, when patents will be imposed on all generic drugs, analysts suggest.

Upgrading product quality is one area the companies should focus on, they said. Other suggestions include capacity building in research and engineering and the setting-up of an active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) park to help local companies face the challenge.

Capacity building means innovations, strengthening reverse engineering, training local people and upgrading technology. An API park will help produce raw materials locally and innovate ingredients as well.

The word ‘generic’ is used to describe a product, particularly a drug, which does not have a trademark. For example, ‘paracetamol’ is a chemical ingredient that is found in many branded painkillers and is often sold as a generic medicine in its own right.

In 2001, under the trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS), the World Trade Organisation allowed developing and poor nations to produce generic drugs until 2016 without compulsory licences or paying the patent holders.

According to TRIPS, the least-developed country members of WTO will not have to apply for copyrights for a period of 10 years from the date of application, so they will be able to create a viable technological base for public health.

With that, the WTO trade rules have allowed developing and poor countries — mostly without own drugs industry — to issue a compulsory licence to a third country, such as India or Brazil, to produce cheap generic drugs and to import these to address a public health crisis.

Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), thinks Bangladesh is yet to enjoy the full benefits of the deal.

“As a least developed country (LDC), we must make use of the opportunity to make lifesaving drugs without paying for patents or licensing. Our local pharmaceutical plants are of international standards and we have better infrastructure, which made it easy for us to benefit from the WTO deal.

“The government needs to take policy measures to safeguard the increasing pharmaceutical industry,” Rahman said. “Initially, the government should set up an API park to enhance capacity with advanced research facility.”

“Least developed countries have sought an extension of the deadline from 2016 to 2021. We have to aggressively negotiate on this point to extend the deadline by five more years,” Rahman said.

Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, a trustee of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, echoed Rahman. He said the government should encourage investment in raw materials production to face intense price competition in the coming days on locally-manufactured products.

“The first effect of the post-2016 era will be the cost of patents, which will increase raw material prices, and eventually the prices of locally manufactured products,” Chowdhury said.

“At present, most large local pharmaceuticals have to depend on imported raw materials. So it is high time the government encouraged investment in raw material production,” he said. “Otherwise, the present growth in local sales and exports may not sustain.”

There are 250 small, medium and large local and multinational pharmaceuticals operating in Bangladesh, while only seven are producing raw materials.

Currently, the local pharmaceutical market is worth around Tk 7,000 crore. Around 80 percent of total raw materials are imported mainly from China, said industry insiders.

However, local manufacturers are optimistic about maintaining present growth in the post-2016 period.

Mizanur Rahman Sinha, managing director of Acme Laboratories, said the rising prices of medicines will not have a harsh impact on the local consumption of lifesaving products.

“We are ready to embrace the challenge that is likely to hit many Third World pharmaceutical manufacturers. As a method of caution, we are constantly upgrading the quality of our manufacturing plants and products.”

“The quality of our products is far better than any other LDC and most major companies have obtained MHRA (UK) and FDA (US) certification for their products. So I do not think medicine consumption will drop overnight,” added the Acme boss.

Mohammad Mostafa Hassan, general manager of Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd, said huge investment is required to produce raw materials.

“We are optimistic that advanced technological bases to produce new molecules are likely to be developed locally by 2013-14, when investment in the sector will increase manifold,” he said. “We plan to invest in raw material production by that time.”

However, Nazmul Hasan, member of the parliamentary standing committee on health ministry, thinks the time limit should extended, as developing and poor countries are yet to optimally benefit from the deal.

“Most developing and poor countries are yet not enjoying the benefits of the WTO deal. At the same time, WTO still could not finalise the list of patented products,” he said. “We need more time to safeguard the sector, and the timeline should be extended up to 2021.”

Acknowledging poor government preparations in this regard, he said the government is set to handover the API to local pharmaceuticals by the end of this year, which will accelerate capacity building.

sayeda@thedailystar.net

Bangladeshi company develops arsenicosis medicines

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Bangladeshi company develops arsenicosis medicines
Unb, Dhaka

Viola Vitalis, a Bangladeshi company, has developed Arsenicure, an ointment for treatment of external symptoms, and Ars-detox, a capsule formulation to neutralise the accumulated arsenic inside the body.

The founder of Viola Vitalis, young scientist Dr Abdul Kader, made the announcement at a press conference held at the National Press Club yesterday morning.

Bangladesh Academy of Sciences and Viola Vitalis jointly organised the press conference.

Addressing the press conference, Dr Abdul Kader said there are certain specific problems, which are only encountered in developing countries but not experienced in the developed countries. In the developing countries, marginal people are mostly the victims of arsenicosis.

But, he said, the pharmaceutical or nutraceutical companies are not interested to develop products or services for the marginal people as their only “interest is on return on investment”.

Dr Kader said Viola Vitalis and Allium Vitals have developed an innovative system, which has been found effective to address arsenicosis problems.

He said that Viola Vitalis in cooperation with Helmholtz Centre for Environment Research, Leipzig, Germany are now developing ‘biosensor to detect specific arsenic contamination’ from water samples which will be user-friendly.

Dr Kader said: “The nutraceuticals are made based on natural preparations. It has been tested on animals. All ingredients are classified as GRAS by the FDA (Federal Drug Administration of United States Government). Generally, it is recognised as safe for human consumption.”

Secretary of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences and former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Prof Naiyyum Chowdhury, scientist Prof Dr Amir H Khan and representative of the Helmholtz Centre for Environment Research Carola Endes also spoke at the press conference.

BTCL to set up digital exchange in unions

http://www.newagebd.com/2010/feb/13/busi.html#8

BTCL to set up digital exchange in unions
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka

Bangladesh Telecommunication Limited will set up 200-line digital exchange and optical fibre in each union of the country.

The primary cost of the project has been estimated at about Tk 5,000 crore, managing director of BTCL ASM Khabiruzzaman told the news agency on Thursday.

He said the ministry of telecommunications had taken the project to bring one crore subscribers under land phone and Internet network by 2012.

The LGRD and cooperative ministry will provide 50 per cent fund for implementing the project, Khabiruzzaman said.

The digital exchange will be set up in 8,498 unions of the country, he said.

On the other hand, the BTCL has also undertaken a good number of projects to bring the entire country under a single telecommunication network.

Local software gaining foothold

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Local software gaining foothold
Softexpo 2010 kicks off

Md Hasan

Local IT (information technology) innovations have gained a sound footing, as the market prefers domestic products to foreign peers in different service areas now.

The top adaptors of local software solutions include banks, leasing companies, corporate houses, government bodies, NGOs, brokerage houses, merchant banks, life insurance companies, and customs houses.

Businesses say the improvement in such solutions in line with a global standard and low prices have encouraged them to lean towards the local ones over the last few years.

According to software developers, the cost of such local ones vary between Tk 1 crore and Tk 3 crore, while foreign software costs Tk 30-40 crore.

Meanwhile, the foreign software adaptors point to some problems. The non-availability of after-sales-services and even shortage of trouble-shooters are the two they identified.

“Once upon a time, I used to prefer foreign solutions. But the time is over. Local software solutions are equally capable to provide core banking solutions,” said SM Mainuddin Chowdhury, senior executive vice president of Southeast Bank.

Chowdhury is very happy with his bank’s core software solutions, provided by Leads Corporate Ltd, a leading maker of local software, which also had been able to grab a global market share despite financial crisis worldwide.

The industry as a whole still lags behind in research and development areas. But product diversification has been identified as most important development in the last few years, as evidenced in the items on display at the Softexpo 2010 that kicked off yesterday in Dhaka.

Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services, or BASIS is organising the 5-day fair.

“We’re developing our products everyday in line with market demand,” said Fariha Rahman, business development officer of Technohaven Company Ltd.

Besides developing banking software, complete billing solution of Titas Gas Company is one of the big solutions provided by Technohaven.

Leads Corporation Limited has also come up with massively providing merchant banking solutions. More than 20 merchant banks are now using its solutions.

“We’re competing with the foreign solutions,” said A S M Nurun Nabi, assistant manager (marketing) of Leads Corporation, adding that the company will soon go for a joint venture with a Danish firm, Leads Capevo, to provide solutions for that country.

The banking sector that needs solutions is now in more focus from the local software developers.

DataSoft, a core banking solutions provider, will also enter into a joint venture with a Swiss firm, according to Ahmed Hussain Mahboob Uddin, business development manager of the company.

The credit for automation of Chittagong and Dhaka customs houses goes to DataSoft.

The industry exported $32.91 million worth of IT based services to different countries, registering a less than one percent of the global market share.

A World Bank’s study reveals Bangladesh can fetch $500 million from IT-enabled services by 2014.

BASIS chief Habibullah N Karim expressed his high hope that the domestic market size could be Tk 2,000 crore, although the present turnover is only Tk 400 crore.

He said out of the Tk 400 crore market, local software markers have less than 50 percent market share, failing to compete with foreign companies, as maximum private and even government institutions still sometimes prefer expensive foreign made software solutions.

hasan@thedailystar.net

Two bills in JS to set up hi-tech based industries

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Two bills in JS to set up hi-tech based industries
Staff Correspondent

Two bills were placed in parliament yesterday seeking to enact laws for growth and development of hi-tech based industries in a planned way and innovation of sustainable and environment-friendly technologies in agriculture, environment, medicine and industries.

State Minister for Science and ICT Yeafesh Osman placed the bills with the provisions for establishing hi-tech parks in different parts of the country and a national institute of biotechnology for carrying out research.

Yeafesh also placed three other bills on National Science and Technology Museum, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre and Bangladesh National Scientific and Technical Documentation Centre (BANSDOC).

The organisations were created and are being managed and run through government circulars.

In defence of enacting legislations for the three organisations, he said as a special type of organisation, the Bangabanhdu Novo Theater needs its own law and regulations for taking important decisions for its development.

On the other hand, national science and technology museum has been facing difficulties to run its activities as an autonomous body for lack of its own law. Similarly, BANSDOC also needs its own law, he added.

All the five bills were sent to the parliamentary standing committee on science and ICT ministry for scrutiny and to submit reports.

Explaining aims and objectives of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority bill, Yeafesh said it is very important to expand and develop export oriented hi-tech based industries to ensure socio-economic development.

Usage of hi-technology will create huge employment opportunities and also stop brain drain, he said.

“It will be possible to transform Bangladesh into a middle income country through expansion and development of hi-technologies,” Yafesh said.

He said the government has already decided to establish country’s first hi-tech park at Kaliakoir in Gazipur and such parks will be established gradually in other parts of the country.

With enactment of the proposed legislation, the government will set up hi-tech park authority that will work for establishing parks under both government and private initiatives and their proper management and development.

The authorities will have a high profile board of governors led by the prime minister. Ministers of science and ICT, industries, commerce, finance, home, post and telecommunications, land, education, forest and law will be members of the board, according to a provision of the bill.

The bill also proposed a 15-member executive committee led by the science and ICT minister to enforce the proposed legislation.

The proposed law also offered tax holiday and bonded facilities to the industries established in the park for carrying out their export and import activities. It also proposed to empower the government to suspend enforcement of any existing laws to set up and develop hi-tech parks and attract investment.

In rationale of the bill on biotechnology, the state minister said it is imperative to set a national institute of biotechnology to ensure Bangladesh’s socio-economic development through usage of biotechnology.

With enactment of the proposed legislation, the government will establish a national institute of biotechnology, which will be run by an 18-member board of directors led by the science and ICT secretary.

Simplification in US business visa likely

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Simplification in US business visa likely
Star Business Report

US visa procedures for Bangladeshi businesspeople will be simplified in order to enhance business ties between the two countries.

“We’re trying to make visa process simple for the businesspeople. Besides, visa instructions will be provided in both Bangla and English languages to make it more comfortable for them,” said Sandra J Ingram, consul general of the US Embassy in Dhaka, yesterday.

Sandra was speaking as guest speaker at a luncheon meeting of American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Bangladesh held at a city hotel.

Business leaders Anis-ud-Dowla and Rokia A Rahman attended the meeting where AmCham president Aftab ul Islam coordinated it.

Pointing his finger at the increased volume of US-Bangla trade, the US official said the embassy trebled the number of business visas in the last five years, compared to that of the previous years.

“During the period Bangladesh exports to the US has doubled, while its imports increased to 40 percent compared with the corresponding five years,” Ingram said.

She put emphasis on raising the exchange of visits by businesspeople in line with the US government’s National Export Initiatives, which eyes directly connecting with new customers.

During the meeting, a number of demands were raised from local entrepreneurs, which include relaxation in stringent rules for visas and issuance of more visas to company executives side by side the entrepreneurs.

“The US embassy issues visa mainly to entrepreneurs, but it frequently refuses visa applications for company executives, which remains a hindrance to smooth communication between businessmen,” said Dr Sikder M Zakir, managing director, Telemedicine Reference Centre Limited.

Aftab ul Islam echoed Zakir’s views saying that such refusal leads to an embarrassing situation for the businesspeople.

Local-made ship to prevent oil spillage in sea

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Local-made ship to prevent oil spillage in sea

The newly-constructed oil-spill cleaner Bay Cleaner-2 to be handed over to Chittagong Port Authority today. Photo: Star

Staff Correspondent, Ctg

The Chittagong Port Authority today receives an oily waste collection vessel from Western Marine Shipyard Ltd to prevent spillage of wasted oil into the sea from ships, tankers and other vessels.

Commissioned as Bay Cleaner-2, the vessel is first of its kind in the country and will significantly enhance CPA’s capacity in safeguarding marine environment as required by the International Maritime Organisation under Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study and Marine Pollution, sources said.

Western Marine authority will hand over the vessel to CPA Chairman Commodore RU Ahmed at a ceremony at its shipyard at Kolagaon under Patia upazila in the Port City.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan and Nur-E-Alam Chowdhury, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on shipping ministry, are scheduled to attend the handover ceremony.

At a press conference yesterday, Western marine officials said the CPA signed contract with the Lamor Corporation AB of Finland, one of the manufacturers of spill response systems and products, for building the oily waste reception vessel. The Lamor later teamed up with Western Marine to build the vessel at the latter’s shipyard.

Western Marine Chairman Saiful Islam said the vessel, with a dimension of 25m length, 6.80m width and 4.10m depth, would have a capacity of storing 150cbm oily wastes, 30cbm fresh water, 40cbm fuel oil and 3cbm lube oil.

Activities of Bay Cleaner-2 will include reception of oily wastes from ships, tankers and other vessels docked at Chittagong Port, transferring wastes to treatment sites on the shore, and collection of oily wastes over a 2km area within the CPA zone, said Saiful.

Western Marine Managing Director Sakhawat Hossain said Lamor got the order for building the vessel at a cost of Tk 25 crore.

He expressed hope that there will be policy supports like declaring the south bank of the Karnaphuli and banks of the Meghna and the Pashur at Mongla Port as shipyard zones, delivery of imported shipbuilding materials on priority basis, single digit rate of bank interest and 15 percent cash incentive for the shipbuilding industry to help this booming sector flourish further.

VAT reform plans appear today

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VAT reform plans appear today
Star Business Report

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) makes public the reform proposals for revising the VAT (value added tax) Act and first schedule of the Customs Act today.

“Modification to the First Schedule of the Customs Act will simplify customs appraisal, while the reformed VAT structure will help pay taxes with a single VAT registration,” said an NBR official.

“We are going to bring reform in difficult systems that often create confusion over submitting taxes. Initially, we have prepared some proposals that we are going to discuss with stakeholders and journalists,” he said.

Bangladesh to be middle-income state within 4 yrs: BB governor

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Bangladesh to be middle-income state within 4 yrs: BB governor
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Barisal

Bangladesh is likely to emerge as a country of middle-income group within the next four years thanks to its steady pace of growth and inclusive growth strategy taken by the present government.

The governor of the Bangladesh Bank, Atiur Rahman, said this in an exclusive interview with the news agency during his recent visit to different rural areas of the country’s southern part.

The central bank governor said the country has achieved 5.9 per cent national growth during the last fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 compared to 6.2 per cent of the previous fiscal when most economies of the world slid down substantially due to global economic downturn.

‘By this time our per capita income has increased by nearly 50 per cent and stood at 690 US dollars. If this growth trend continues, we will reach the targeted income level of $975 within the next four years to become a middle-income country of the world,’ he said.

‘The growth may reach double digit point within the next four years if the economy is not affected by any calamity,’ Atiur said.

He took the helm of the central bank of Bangladesh for four year tenure on May 1, 2009 as its 10th governor. He is now visiting different rural areas of the country to explore new areas of investment and monitor credit programmes of different banks.

To continue the current growth trend, the governor said Bangladesh Bank has adopted an inclusive growth strategy to increase both national income and internal demand within the timeframe.

Under the plan, the central bank has taken a comprehensive plan to boost rural economic growth through agriculture and small and medium scale industries.

‘Our focal point is agriculture — the backbone of our economy and our next focus is on small and medium scale industries where millions of farmers and entrepreneurs are involved,’ Atiur said.

‘If we can include them in our mainstream economic activities, we would be able to increase our domestic output and raise our income growth at the tangible level of a middle-income country,’ he added.

He said that their target is to disburse Tk 12,000 crore agricultural loans to genuine farmers within the current fiscal year, which is 25 per cent higher than the amount of the previous year.

‘Most of such loans are being distributed openly by different banks and NGOs through their rural branches so that farmers can avail of the loan services without any troubles they faced earlier,’ Atiur said, adding that banks have already achieved 49 per cent of the target during the last six months ending December, 2009.

‘Some banks have already achieved more than 50 per cent of disbursement target during this time and I hope if we can continue this trend and do not face any national calamity, our growth might be double digit within the next four years,’ the governor said.

Atiur said the central bank has already asked commercial banks to speed up their rural credit programmes in cooperation with various NGOs working for rural people.

‘If banks fail to disburse the money among farmers and rural entrepreneurs within the time, they must place the funds with the central bank at a very low rate,’ he said replying to a question.

The governor said Bangladesh Bank is likely to publish a comprehensive SME development policy to boost SME businesses and explore new areas of investment through rural people, women and other indigenous workforces of the economy.

‘After intensive study, our officials have found out potential areas for SME investment and collected indicative targets from banks for SME financing. A special window has been opened up for SMEs in the central bank,’ he said.

The central bank will soon announce a business-friendly policy for SMEs and introduce a refinancing scheme fund of Tk 200 crore to facilitate investors and businessmen with funds at lower interest rates.

Leaf colour charts may save 1.5 lakh tonnes of urea this season

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Leaf colour charts may save 1.5 lakh tonnes of urea this season
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka

A huge number of farmers in the ongoing boro season are giving fertiliser to their crop fields using the leaf colour charts which is expected to save around 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of urea fertiliser across the country.

‘This will also maintain the health of the soil, the ecological balance and finally will enhance the crop yield by 4-6 per cent,’ said agriculturist Radheshyam Sarker.

According to a competent source in the Directorate of Agriculture Extension, the use of LCCs at the farmers’ level will save around 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of urea or an estimated Tk 180 crore.

‘Besides, the reduced use of urea will indirectly benefit several lakh people and will also ensure food security apart from maintaining the ecological balance,’ said the DAE official.

Radheshyam, project director of leaf color chart under the DAE, said around 4 lakh LCCs will remain in use by the farmers throughout the country this season.

He informed that some 3 lakh pieces of LCC, imported from the Philippines in the fiscal 2007-08 and 2008-09, were later distributed free of cost to the farmers. ‘Import of another one lakh LCC is under process,’ he said.

Under the LCC project, some 3 lakh farmers in 12,200 blocks across the country were provided with LCCs free of cost and most of them benefited from increased crop yields.

The DAE is making hectic efforts to popularise the LCC technology at the grassroots level farmers in the current boro season by imparting training to 37,000 farmers, holding 8,000 block demonstrations and organising 2,700 field days.

When contacted, the deputy director of food crops wing (rice) at the DAE, Fazal-e-Elahi, said that in the current 2009-10 season, some 48 lakh hectares of land were brought under boro cultivation with the production set at 1.90 crore metric tonnes.

In the last season (2008-09), boro production was 1.85 lakh metric tonnes from some 49 lakh hectares of land brought under cultivation.

According to sources at the IRRI office in Dhaka, the DAE imported some one lakh pieces of LCC from the Philippines for the ongoing boro season, while BRAC and PKSF also imported 20,000 pieces of LCC each from the Philippines.

Invented by the International Rice Research Institute, the leaf color chart is a plastic, ruler-shaped strip containing four panels that range in color from yellowish green to dark green.

It is an easy-to-use and inexpensive diagnostic tool for monitoring the relative greenness of a rice leaf as an indicator of the plant nitrogen status.

CCC to set up 500MW plant, 12km elevated expressway

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CCC to set up 500MW plant, 12km elevated expressway
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Chittagong

The Chittagong City Corporation has embarked upon setting up 500 Megawatt power plant and building a 12-kilometre elevated expressway in the port city at a cost of Tk 5000 crore.

The CCC engineering department sources said the 500MW coal-based power plant will be set up at Sikalbaha area, south side of the River Karnaphuli in the city on Build Operate and Transfer basis at a cost of Tk 3500 crore while a 12-kilometre elevated expressway will be constructed from city’s Dewanhat to Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport at a cost of Tk 1,500 crore.

CCC source said after approval of the LGRD ministry the proposed project had already been sent to the Planning Commission for vetting. If the proposed power plant is completed, the people of Chittagong would get rid of load shedding side by side the city dwellers will get relieve from the exhausted traffic jam at Agrabad commercial area after the construction of the 12km Dewanhat to Airport expressway, the source added.

Source said development works of the two projects are expected to begin by July-August this year and be completed in next three years and a half.

Foreign investors showed their eagerness to invest for operating the projects for 25 years while the CCC would also have a portion of profit from the project, CCC planning department source said. The investors will hand over the projects to the CCC after 25 years of their operation, the source added.

The source said the government would provide security bond for the investors for their investment in the projects. A senior CCC engineer said the investors from Malaysia, China and Singapore have already expressed their interests to invest and implement the projects.

CCC has selected the land at the south side of Karnaphuli River for setting up the power plant. Source said the ministry concerned directed the initiators of the project to operate the power plant projects using coal as there is not sufficient gas supply in Chittagong for long.

CCC executive engineer M Anwar Hossain said people of Chittagong had been reeling under untold suffering of traffic jam in 12-kilometre road from Dewanhat to Airport every day.

According to the Chittagong Development Authority Master plan, there are four to five thousand vehicles plying the Dewanhat to Airport road per hour. After construction of the expressway, the users will use the road by paying specific tolls to the investors and would be able to reach their destinations in short time.

The system of gate pass after paying specific tolls would be incorporated in both ways of the elevated expressway.

Talking to the news agency, the Chittagong Development Authority chairman Abdus Salam said there was a great need for such infrastructure development for upgrading the Chittagong as a world class city.

After implementing the projects, CDA chairman said, people of Chittagong will enjoy more facilities.

City mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury told the news agency that the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, verbally directed him to implement the project as soon as possible during his meeting in November last.

Turkey keen to expand trade with Bangladesh

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=161602

Turkey keen to expand trade with Bangladesh
80-man strong team arrives with president Gul Friday
MEER SAIFUL ISLAM

A delegation of around 80 businessmen would accompany Turkish President Abdullah Gul during his visit to Bangladesh on Friday and Saturday to explore trade and investment opportunities in the country as well as to bolster economic cooperation between the two countries.

The business delegation would be a part of a huge 120-member Turkish delegation the Turkish President will lead, and is scheduled to join a business to business meeting at Hotel Sonargaon on Saturday.

The B2B meeting is scheduled to be opened followed by a breakfast meeting to be attended by Abdullah Gul, who is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Friday after concluding their visit to India.

“The trip of the Turkish delegation would contribute a lot to our economy as the country is a very developing economy now,” FBCCI president Annisul Huq told The Independent yesterday.

The Federation of the Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the country’s apex trade body, would host the breakfast and business meetings.

Annisul Huq said Turkey has specialisations in the areas of energy, power and other infrastructure sectors that would create an opportunity for the country to attract their investment in the fields.

There are also possibilities that they would be interested in trade and investment partnership with Bangladesh in the areas of textiles, relocation of their textiles industries in Bangladesh and develop partnership in the shipbuilding industry.

“It’s a good indication that they have taken interest in developing partnership with Bangladesh… our economy will gain substantially if it clicks,” said the FBCI president.

He said trade between the two countries also increased significantly during the last two years, showing signs of further improving the economic cooperation.

According to FBCCI figures available, Bangladesh’s exports to Turkey trebled during last four years from over US$ 100 million in 2005-06 to US$ 330 million in 2008-09. Turkey’s exports to Bangladesh, however, remained static at around US$ 80 million during the period.

Major export items of Bangladesh included jute products, readymade garments, cotton waste and leather and leather products while major import items from Turkey included machinery, mechanical and electrical appliances, vegetable products, food products, textile articles and mineral products.

“I hope, Turkish investment in Bangladesh would be encouraging after the visit of the delegation,” said Bangladesh-Turkey Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTCCI) president Fikret Cicek, who has some investment in Bangladesh.

He said around 40 Turkish companies have set up their offices in Bangladesh during the last three years while few companies set up their factories here.

He expected that the very friendly relation between the two countries would strengthen further after the visit of the Turkish delegation.

The FBCCI has already apprised local businessmen of the interest of the Turkish businessmen.

The delegation expressed their interest of cooperation in many areas including textile, tourism, construction, banking, automotive industry, iron and steel, aviation, IT and telecommunication, energy, food production, cinema and television, media, furniture, electronics, ship manufacturing, engineering and dye industry.

The local businessmen and the Turkish business delegation would have direct exchange during the B2B meeting to be preceded by two presentations from both sides on their respective economies and investment opportunities in the two countries.

Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), the apex trade body of Turkey, president Rifat Hisarciklioghe will lead the Turkish business delegation.

Earlier, Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman paid a six-day visit to Turkey from November 6 last year. He attended the Economic Summit of COMCEC (Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation) organised by Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).

BASIS SoftExpo begins today

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BASIS SoftExpo begins today
Staff Correspondent

A five-day exposition of software and information technology enabled services will begin at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city today.

The Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services has organised the ‘BASIS SoftExpo-2010’ with the theme ‘Digital Bangladesh in Action’.

Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith is expected to inaugurate the exposition today, said Rezaul Hassan, a member of the organising committee Tuesday.

About 150 firms from home and abroad, including from countries like Japan, Denmark, UK and the USA, are expected to participate in the exposition.

The fair will remain open for public from 10am to 8pm till February 14.

6 foreign cos agree to bring low-price mobile set, laptop

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=161385

6 foreign cos agree to bring low-price mobile set, laptop
BSS, DHAKA

Six foreign companies have expressed their interests in manufacturing mobile set and laptop with the joint venture of state owned Bangladesh Telephone Shilpa Sangstha (Teshish).

Managing director of Teshish Ismail Hossain told the news agency that the letters of their expression of interest were sent to head of the Electric and Electronic Department of BUET for scrutiny.

The government floated international tender in December 2009 inviting the entrepreneurs as the Ministry of Post of Telecommunications has taken initiative to make the Teshish full operative after long time.

For the first time the government has undertaken the initiative for a joint venture of the state owned Teshish with foreign company to produce mobile set and laptop.

The MD did not disclose name of any foreign bidder saying it may create confusion before completion of the scrutiny. However, he firmly hoped that mobile set and laptop will come to market by April next.

Secretary of Teshish Osman Gani said the mobile will be produced with local technology and every set of mobile will be Taka 2,000 and will have every latest facilities including double SIM system.

Referring to the experts’ opinion, he said country’s total mobile phone users will be over eight crore by next two years.  Teshish will produce four lakh sets a year preliminarily.

He said Teshish was completely inoperative for the last 12 years and 525 officials and employees were given salaries without any work. The manpower of the company was reduced to 260 in July 2007.

Bangladesh clothing show in London

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=161272

Bangladesh clothing show in London
ECONOMIC REPORTER

GenX UK Limited is organising a 2-day long event “Bangladesh Clothing Show 2010″ from 28 to 29 May 2010. The show will be held at one of the prime venues “Hilton London Metroploe” – a key location in central London, UK surrounded by corporate, lifestyle retailers, fashion shops and tourist attractions, says a press release.

What we intend to achieve is to promote Bangladeshi garment in Europe and also to bring the buyers, sellers and designers together under one roof.  Bangladesh Clothing Show 2010 will be a wonderful way of showcasing the artistic and innovative skills of the Bangladesh Clothing industry and its role in serving the lifestyle that evolves to meet the tastes of everybody on a daily basis.

The primary objective of the Bangladesh Clothing Show 2010 is to enhance the trade and investment relationship between Bangladesh and European Countries.