Remittance lowest in six years

Remittance inflow in fiscal 2016-17 has been the lowest in six years — a development that can be viewed as a dark cloud over an otherwise buoyant economy. Migrant workers sent home $12.77 billion last fiscal year, down 14.47 percent year-on-year, according to data from the central bank. Remittance is a major source of foreign currency for Bangladesh and the declining trend since fiscal 2015-16 has progressively become a matter of concern for the government. The inflows were lower every month save for May last fiscal year. In June, $1.21 billion flew in, down 17 percent from a year earlier. The International Monetary Fund last month cited the declining remittance as a risk factor to the economy. Over the last 10 years, remittances accounted for 8.5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product on average, close to eight times the foreign direct investment flow into Bangladesh, according to the IMF. The slump was due to persistent weaknesses in the Gulf Cooperation Council economies, where the majority of the migrant workers reside, as a result of the low oil prices, said Zahid Hussain, lead economist of the World Bank’s Dhaka office.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/business/remittance-lowest-six-years-1427515

Govt urges banks to provide Tk 20,000cr for power projects

The government has urged banks to channel Tk 20,000 crore into the power sector over the next six months to fast-track quick rental power plant projects. The request was made at a meeting on June 21 between the power division and top executives of banks.“Banks are sitting on huge excess liquidity and the power sector is a big opportunity for them to invest in,” said Nasrul Hamid, state minister for the ministry of power, energy and mineral resources. At present, the banking sector has excess liquidity of about Tk 100,000 crore, according to data from the central bank. Besides, investment in private sector power plants is secured as all the projects have purchasing agreements with the government.“That is like government guarantee against the loans,” he said, adding that the returns from power sector investment will be higher than other sectors. Several managing directors and chief executive officers of banks have acknowledged the request from the power division. Banks will oblige to the request of the power division as the country needs to address the electricity shortage, said Ishtiaque Ahmed Chowdhury, managing director of Trust Bank.“There was no pressure from the government,” said Ataur Rahman Prodhan, managing director of Rupali Bank, adding that banks can easily arrange the funds for the fast-track projects as they have excess liquidity.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/business/govt-urges-banks-provide-tk-20000cr-power-projects-1427479

BB updates SME terms

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has updated its definition of micro, cottage, small and medium enterprises in line with the National Industrial Policy 2016 and set a limit to the amount of credit they can avail. Moreover, banks must set aside for SMEs 20 percent of the loans they give out in 2017 and raise it to 25 percent by 2021. Of that for SMEs, at least 50 percent has to be kept for cottage, micro and small enterprises, said a circular published on Thursday.“Overall, priority should be given to lending to small enterprises compared to medium enterprises,” the BB said. BB’s January 2016 circular had called for a minimum 30 percent SME lending to manufacturing sector, 15 percent for service sector and a maximum 55 percent for trading.“But it is being observed that many banks and financial institutions are not lending to SMEs up to expected level,” said the circular. Now the instruction is to increase lending to manufacturing SMEs to at least 40 percent by 2021, service SMEs to at least 25 percent and trading SMEs a maximum 35 percent. At least 10 percent of the lending will have to go to women SME entrepreneurs. This rate will have to be raised to 15 percent by 2021. Bankers have welcomed the new regulations. Selim RF Hussain, managing director of Brac Bank, said the changes are positive and aligned with the government’s broader industrial policy, reflecting the transformational changes that have taken place in the economy in the last seven-eight years. “The definitions of micro, small and medium are clearer and better than what they were,” he told The Daily Star. He pointed at some new exposure requirements of the new regulations. “It will take a few years for various banks to increase their SME lending to 20 percent of their total portfolio.” “Brac Bank is already following the regulations as we are SME-focused. But it will be difficult for other banks to achieve. Hopefully, the central bank will provide adequate time to them as they won’t be able to do it overnight,”

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/business/bb-updates-sme-terms-1427509

Banks’ operating profits improve

Banks have made hefty operating profits in the first six months of 2017, despite excess liquidity and falling lending rates.Bankers attributed the healthy profit to the diversified business policies and political stability in the country. Operating profits mean a bank’s gross profit less operating expenses before deduction of interest and taxes. From January to June this year, Rupali Bank’s profit rose over six fold to Tk 200 crore from Tk 32 crore last year. The increase in loan disbursements, mainly SME loans, contributed to the rise in profits, said Ataur Rahman Prodhan, managing director of the state-owned bank. Moreover, the bank managed to recover a big portion of its classified loans in this period, he said. Hit by scams, BASIC Bank made a profit of nearly Tk 20 crore thanks to its growing earnings from interest of loans, said Alauddin A Majid, chairman of the state-run lender. However, the bank incurred a loss of Tk 46 crore in the six months till June last year.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/business/banks-operating-profits-improve-1427500