$

TT-Clean: 77.1 | TK BC-Selling: 78.1
TK OD-Sight: 76.88 TK | TC-Selling: 78.1 TK

TT-Clean: 77.1 | TK BC-Selling: 78.1
TK OD-Sight: 76.88 TK | TC-Selling: 78.1 TK

£

TT-Clean: 77.1 | TK BC-Selling: 78.1
TK OD-Sight: 76.88 TK | TC-Selling: 78.1 TK

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Rate last updated: 02/01/2014 11:15:04 AM

Daily Business News Flash May 23, 2021

Lack of info, support barrier to more Japanese investment

Japanese companies doing business in Bangladesh are facing challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, including a lack of information and support from authorities, which may dent the flow of investment, according to investors and a recent survey. Besides, a culture of procedural delays at government offices and frequent policy changes discourages Japanese investors from starting a business in Bangladesh. Till December 2019, around 310 Japanese companies were conducting business in Bangladesh, with investments reaching $386 million.The country office of the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) recently conducted a survey among 75 Japanese companies on the challenges they were facing in running operations during the pandemic.It showed around 67 per cent of Japanese companies were witnessing troubles due to the suspension or reduction of commercial flights, and 64 per cent for 14-day mandatory self-quarantine after arrival in Bangladesh. Another 63 per cent faced difficulties involving coronavirus infection control, 61 per cent dealing cases of infections (medical system and bed availability), and 61 per cent in case of inviting business travellers and technical instructors to Bangladesh.Sixty per cent of companies say they are going through difficulties over travelling outside of Bangladesh, and 57 per cent to vaccinate Japanese expatriates in Bangladesh.Thirty-one per cent faced troubles over delay in exports and imports, 24 per cent mentioned order cancellation and reduction, 9 per cent working capital shortage, and 8 per cent about the overdue letter of credit settlement.Paban Chowdhury, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza), said there was room for improving the business environment in Bangladesh and relaxing some rules and regulations to attract more FDI. The Bangladesh Bank, the National Board of Revenue, and the commerce ministry have already issued several circulars regarding the relaxation of investment rules.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/lack-info-support-barrier-more-japanese-investment-2097185

Cash takes back seat as Covid drives card use

The use of both credit and debit cards went up heavily in March as people purchased more products and services through digital means amid the recent resurgence of Covid-19. Total card loans held by lenders stood at Tk 1,783 crore in March, up 18 per cent from a month ago and 57 per cent year-on-year, data from Bangladesh Bank shows.The growth in March was also the highest in the last seven months since September last year as the previous highest growth was 24 per cent in August. Clients’ dependency on debit cards increased substantially in March as the figure stood at Tk 22,000 crore, up 22 per cent from that a month earlier and 45.33 per cent year-on-year. The growth of debit card transactions is also the highest in the last eight months as the number of cardholders surged 44.66 per cent in July.The issuance of credit cards was on the rise in March, when the outstanding number of bank credit cards stood at 17.37 lakh whereas it was 17.13 lakh the month before. Similarly, the number of debit cards issued by banks stood at 2.24 crore in contrast to 2.20 crore respectively.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/cash-takes-back-seat-covid-drives-card-use-2097181

Record foreign aid use in next budget

Making hay while the sun, it appears, is the finance ministry’s mantra as it goes about preparing the budget for fiscal 2021-22, its second in the backdrop of the extraordinary challenges thrown by the pandemic.The government is sitting on a record amount of foreign aid and at the same time, the development partners are chipping in liberally to help Bangladesh weather the pandemic gale. Closer to home, banks are sitting on excess liquidity and nowhere to lend to given the precarious state of the economy.It is these two wellsprings of funds that the ministry will draw upon for the most part to bankroll the budget for the next fiscal year amid shrunken domestic revenue mobilisation. The government is hoping to use a record Tk 115,000 crore (about $13 billion) in foreign funding in fiscal 2021-22, up 35.4 percent year-on-year, according to finance ministry officials.Banks are expected to provide Tk 76,252 crore towards the financing of the budget, down 4.4 percent from this fiscal year.The government would extract Tk 37,000 crore from non-bank sources, up 4.8 percent from fiscal 2020-21.Historically, in Bangladesh, when the budget is drafted, a 5 percent deficit was projected but the actual deficit would invariably be about 4 percent every year as the ministries and divisions failed to use their allocated funds. However, since fiscal 2018-19, the budget deficit has been trespassing the 5 percent-mark. This fiscal year, it is tipped to cross the 6 percent-mark.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/record-foreign-aid-use-next-budget-2096977

Local and Global Stock Indices *

Index NameClose ValueValue ChangePercentage Change
DJIA$ 34,207.84
↑123.69↑ 0.36%
FTSE100$ 7,018.05↓1.74↓0.02%
Nikkei 225$ 28,317.83↑219.58↑0.78%

World Commodities *

CommodityClose ValueValue ChangePercentage Change
Crude Oil (WTI)$ 63.58↑1.64↑2.65%
Crude Oil (Brent)$ 66.44↑1.33↑2.04%
Gold Spot$ 1,881.25↑4.04↑0.22%

Major Currencies Exchange Rates Movement in Last Seven Days *

Exchange Rates
USD 1BDT 84.8000
GBP 1BDT 119.7122
EUR 1BDT 103.2525

*CURRENCIES AND COMMODITIES ARE TAKEN FROM BLOOMBERG.<

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM

EMRANUL HUQ

MANAGING DIRECTOR & CEO OF DHAKA BANK LIMITED

Dear Valued Patrons,

At the very onset, let me express my heartiest gratitude for allowing us to serve you and I also wanted to reach out to you directly with an assurance that Dhaka Bank is fully equipped to support you during this difficult time.

Last couple of weeks ago we all were living in a peaceful condition, performing our daily tasks freely and perfectly. Entire economy and business environment was also in a good shape, until COVID-19 put a forceful stoppage to the overall life style and economy of the world. We all know that social distancing and cleanliness are the keys to prevent this pandemic. Hence, we urge your conscious effort to limiting public interaction and suspending wherever possible.

YOUR SAFETY MEANS EVERYTHING TO US
In this current situation, Dhaka Bank and its employees are beside you where we are fully online, either working from home or at our offices under a robust Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to serve you with limited branch banking and a full-fledged alternate delivery channel services.

WE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOUR BANKING NEEDS
Our state of the art Mobile App, Dhaka Bank GO (Click https://bit.ly/2WVfieu) and Internet Banking - Dhaka Bank Direct gives you the freedom of banking online anytime from anywhere. You can check the balance and transfer money to any designated Banks including any Dhaka Bank or bKash Account, make utility bill payments and mobile top-up through our Mobile App and Internet Banking Services. Our ATMs are also running efficiently with availability of sufficient cash for your convenience where you can make cash withdrawals whenever the need arises. Mentionable, the withdrawal of cash from any ATMs within Bangladesh with Dhaka Bank Debit Cards are absolutely free of charges up till April 30, 2020 (Dhaka Bank will bear the cost). Our corporate customers can also use our completely safe and secured online platform Dhaka Bank C-Solution for Payments, Inter Bank Fund Transfers, etc.

Moreover, to fulfill your urgent requirement, we have a limited no. of branches up and running by ensuring all kinds of precautionary and safety measures for you.

GET IN TOUCH IF YOU ARE IN EXTREME EMERGENCY
In case of extreme emergency and facing difficulties in conducting banking transactions, please let us know through our 24/7 Contact Center number 16474 (or, dial +8809678016474 for ISD/Overseas Calls). We are always with you to combat your difficulties.

WE WILL FREQUENTLY UPDATE YOU
As you know we are going through a critical phase and the situation is novel to all of us. We are getting lot of new information from various sources everyday about COVID-19 which will be shared at www.dhakabankltd.com.

Thank you for your trust and continued support to us. I firmly believe that jointly we will be able to combat this situation and win against all the odds.

Please stay home, stay safe and take care of yourself and family.

Best regards,

Emranul Huq
Managing Director & CEO
Dhaka Bank Limited

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