BD
on way to becoming world's No 1 denim goods exporter (Financial Express, September 12, 2013)
Bangladesh might become the leading exporter of denim
and cotton trousers in the world as the orders of this goods have increased by
25%, after China. According to the industry leaders buyers from EU and US are displaying
their eagerness to import the products from Bangladesh. However, to meet the
demand of the international buyers, the companies need to double their
production capacity, said Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) President.
Over the last eight months Bangladesh has exported 100 million pairs of jeans
to the EU and US markets.
Hindrance to low-cost
housing (The Daily Star, September 12, 2013)
Rising prices of land and construction materials is the major obstacle to providing affordable housing in Dhaka. Over the last 13 years, the average land value has increased around 13-fold and prices of major construction materials such as rod and cement rose up to three-fold, said Toufiq M Seraj, managing director of Sheltech (Pvt) Ltd, a real estate company. Apart from the price factor, the number of real estate companies have also increased leading to shrinking profits. Dhaka is now accommodating over 600,000 people per year. More than 120,000 household units are required to house the extra population in Dhaka.
Rising prices of land and construction materials is the major obstacle to providing affordable housing in Dhaka. Over the last 13 years, the average land value has increased around 13-fold and prices of major construction materials such as rod and cement rose up to three-fold, said Toufiq M Seraj, managing director of Sheltech (Pvt) Ltd, a real estate company. Apart from the price factor, the number of real estate companies have also increased leading to shrinking profits. Dhaka is now accommodating over 600,000 people per year. More than 120,000 household units are required to house the extra population in Dhaka.
Export
growth drops as apparel shipments fall (Financial Express, September 11, 2013)
The export in merchandise sector has declined due to the fall of shipment in the apparel sector. Export Promotion Bureau said that export growth in August stood at 3.18%, similar to that of the same month last year. Earnings from knitwear items have declined from the target to 5.69%, exports in agricultural products, leather, engineering products, pharmaceuticals registered a growth. Experts implied this as an impact of Rana Plaza.
The export in merchandise sector has declined due to the fall of shipment in the apparel sector. Export Promotion Bureau said that export growth in August stood at 3.18%, similar to that of the same month last year. Earnings from knitwear items have declined from the target to 5.69%, exports in agricultural products, leather, engineering products, pharmaceuticals registered a growth. Experts implied this as an impact of Rana Plaza.
Corruption
returns as main hurdles to business: study (The Daily Star, September 10, 2013)
Though Bangladesh has climbed up eight notches to 110th place among 148 nations in the World Economic Forum’s 2013-14 Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), corruption has also increased. The GCI Report stated that corruption is the main deterrent to doing business in Bangladesh. The report came out after a survey conducted by the Center for Policy Dialogue based on a questionnaire developed by Geneva-based World Economic Forum. The survey found that besides corruption, lack of infrastructure supply, inadequate bureaucrats of government and political instability are other factors that hinder the growth of a business.
Though Bangladesh has climbed up eight notches to 110th place among 148 nations in the World Economic Forum’s 2013-14 Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), corruption has also increased. The GCI Report stated that corruption is the main deterrent to doing business in Bangladesh. The report came out after a survey conducted by the Center for Policy Dialogue based on a questionnaire developed by Geneva-based World Economic Forum. The survey found that besides corruption, lack of infrastructure supply, inadequate bureaucrats of government and political instability are other factors that hinder the growth of a business.
Bangladesh's
Grameenphone to invest in 3G (Boston Herald, September 10, 2013)
Bangladesh's largest mobile phone company is ready to invest millions of dollars to prepare for 3G operations after gaining spectrum in the country's first open 3G auction. On Sunday, Grameenphone Ltd. won 10 megahertz of spectrum with a bid of $21 million for each megahertz. Three other private companies — Banglalink, the local subsidiary of Egypt's Orascom Telecom; Robi, a joint venture between Malaysia's Axiata Group and Japan's NTT DoCoMo; and Airtel, majority-owned by India's Bharti Airtel — also won bids for 5 megahertz of spectrum each at a price of $105 million. Grameenphone, a subsidiary of Norwegian telecom giant Telenor ASA, has 44 million subscribers and a 42 percent market share.
Bangladesh's largest mobile phone company is ready to invest millions of dollars to prepare for 3G operations after gaining spectrum in the country's first open 3G auction. On Sunday, Grameenphone Ltd. won 10 megahertz of spectrum with a bid of $21 million for each megahertz. Three other private companies — Banglalink, the local subsidiary of Egypt's Orascom Telecom; Robi, a joint venture between Malaysia's Axiata Group and Japan's NTT DoCoMo; and Airtel, majority-owned by India's Bharti Airtel — also won bids for 5 megahertz of spectrum each at a price of $105 million. Grameenphone, a subsidiary of Norwegian telecom giant Telenor ASA, has 44 million subscribers and a 42 percent market share.
Bangladesh
To Pursue Legal Action Against Grameen's Founder Yunus (The Wall Street Journal, September 9, 2013)Bangladesh's government on Monday instructed authorities to pursue legal action against the Nobel Prize-winning founder of Grameen Bank for alleged tax evasion. The decision to move against Muhammad Yunus, former managing director of Grameen, a microlending pioneer credited with helping many rural Bangladeshis escape poverty, was taken at a cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The decision may have been triggered by a long-running apparent political feud between the prime minister and Prof Yunus.
Bangladesh
e-commerce fair starts in London (The Daily Star, September 8, 2013)
The first UK-Bangladesh e-commerce fair took place in London last weekend with many major e-commerce-related organisations from both the countries showcasing their products and services.
The fair gave the participants an opportunity to familiarise and integrate with the fastest growing business form in the world. Services such as money transfer, donations and buying greetings cards are now only a click away from the comfort of people’s homes due to the opportunity of e-commerce.
The fair took place at Gloucester Millennium Hotel, South West London, from September 7-9.
The first UK-Bangladesh e-commerce fair took place in London last weekend with many major e-commerce-related organisations from both the countries showcasing their products and services.
The fair gave the participants an opportunity to familiarise and integrate with the fastest growing business form in the world. Services such as money transfer, donations and buying greetings cards are now only a click away from the comfort of people’s homes due to the opportunity of e-commerce.
The fair took place at Gloucester Millennium Hotel, South West London, from September 7-9.
Hotel chains eye Bangladesh market (The Dhaka Tribune, September 7, 2013)
A number of international hotel chains such as Marriott International, Sheraton, Westin, Novotel and Hilton will open their branches in Bangladesh within the next 2-3 years. Of them, Le Meridien, now under construction at the capital’s Nikunjo along the Airport road, was scheduled to open in July. Best Holdings Ltd, a local concern of Metro Group, is constructing the building with 304 rooms. Frequent visits by increased number of the foreign businessmen coupled with hosting of international sports events has increased the demand for luxury hotels. Bangladesh now has four five-star hotels with a total of nearly 1,000 luxury rooms. The annual occupancy rate on an average is 55-60%, said the industry insiders.
A number of international hotel chains such as Marriott International, Sheraton, Westin, Novotel and Hilton will open their branches in Bangladesh within the next 2-3 years. Of them, Le Meridien, now under construction at the capital’s Nikunjo along the Airport road, was scheduled to open in July. Best Holdings Ltd, a local concern of Metro Group, is constructing the building with 304 rooms. Frequent visits by increased number of the foreign businessmen coupled with hosting of international sports events has increased the demand for luxury hotels. Bangladesh now has four five-star hotels with a total of nearly 1,000 luxury rooms. The annual occupancy rate on an average is 55-60%, said the industry insiders.
Bangladesh
Has 1 Million Solar Systems, Aiming For 5 Million by 2015 (The 9 Billion, September 5, 2013)
Bangladesh, in a matter of months will reach the substantial milestone of having one million solar systems installed. Grameen Shakti is currently installing about a thousand new home solar systems per day, and 80 percent of these are in rural areas with an aim to have as many as five million systems installed by 2015. The company has made it possible for people to afford solar power by tailoring it to what people require and can afford in their particular situation. Often the minimum requirement for electricity is low, and the company provides loans to enable the people to repay easily.
Bangladesh, in a matter of months will reach the substantial milestone of having one million solar systems installed. Grameen Shakti is currently installing about a thousand new home solar systems per day, and 80 percent of these are in rural areas with an aim to have as many as five million systems installed by 2015. The company has made it possible for people to afford solar power by tailoring it to what people require and can afford in their particular situation. Often the minimum requirement for electricity is low, and the company provides loans to enable the people to repay easily.
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