Devolution to help attain GDP above 7.0%: Muhith

Finance Minister AMA Muhith said Thursday the government wanted to bring about devolution in the local government bodies rather than decentralization of power to attain an economic growth to be steady at 7.0% and above. He underscored the need for strengthening and restructuring the local government to sustain the present trend of growth, leading to desirable economic development in the country.

Source: http://print.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/01/20/162598

Govt moves to cut ADP delays

The government is set to introduce a time-bound checklist for project preparation in a bid to cut habitual delays in the implementation. It takes more than one year to get the project moving after obtaining approval, and by the time 20 percent of a project’s fund is released, half of the project’s time elapses, according to the Asian Development Bank.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/business/govt-moves-cut-adp-delays-1348897

Government plans hydropower deal with Nepal

The government plans to sign an agreement with Nepal in order to invest in hydropower projects in the Himalayan country to produce and import electricity, the state minister for power said yesterday. The deal will be signed within a month, Nasrul Hamid said at the monthly “meet the reporters” programme of the Dhaka Reporters Unity at its auditorium in the capital. Bangladesh is increasingly looking outside to meet its growing demand for electricity. Though the country more than doubled its power generation in the last eight years, one-third of the population still does not have access to electricity, while the government plans to bring all households under the electricity coverage by 2021.

Source:
http://www.thedailystar.net/business/govt-plans-hydropower-deal-nepal-1348888
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/01/21/59787

Government finalizes policy to regulate LPG prices

The government has finalized policy guidelines to regulate prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for use in households. He said the policy will ensure price stability in all places of the country.

Source:
http://print.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/01/22/162737
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/01/21/59788/Govt-scraps-plan-to-subsidise-LPG-sector

Runner starts exporting motorbikes to Nepal

Runner Automobiles Ltd has started exporting its motorbikes to Nepal, the first by any company in Bangladesh, diversifying the country’s export basket. A programme was organized on the factory premises of the automobile company in Bhaluka, Mymensingh to mark the shipment of 200 motorbikes to the Himalayan country. At the function, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said Bangladesh has started a glorious journey towards industrialization by stepping into the global market through the exports.

Source:
http://www.thedailystar.net/business/runner-starts-exporting-motorbikes-nepal-1348882

Runner and other motorbike makers may get cash incentives for exports: Commerce minister

The government will provide cash incentives to local entrepreneurs for exporting two-wheelers from the next fiscal year, commerce minister Tofail Ahmed has said. The cash incentives is expected to be announced in the coming budget to encourage local motorcycle manufacturers to break into the export markets, commerce minister said while launching the exports of Runner branded two wheelers to Nepal on the company’s factory premises at Bhaluka in Mymensingh Saturday. By exporting bikes manufactured by Runner Automobiles Limited, the country has been able to diversify its exports basket, he said.

Source: http://print.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/01/22/162702

Eurofood keen to manufacture mobile phones in BD

A British food distribution company has expressed interest to invest in mobile phone production in Bangladesh, reports BSS citing a press release. The Eurofoods Group, a Wales-based company, conveyed their willingness to invest in Bangladesh to Bangladesh High Commissioner to UK Nazmul Quaunine while he was visiting its factories in Newport, Gwent, Wales on Thursday. Eurofood Group already has several fish and food processing plants in Bangladesh.

Source: http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/01/21/59802/Eurofood-keen-to-manufacture-mobile-phones-in-BD

Telcos getting back customers

Mobile operators are witnessing their active subscriber bases expand following a nosedive induced by biometric registration that ended on May 31 last year. The industry started 2016 with a record 13.37 crore connections, but biometric verification cost the operators 1.5 crore connections in total. But by the end of October 2016, the industry regained 2.52 percent of the lost connections, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission said in a report published last week.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/business/telcos-getting-back-customers-1348894

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