Global consumer brand prospects

Global consumer goods brands increase their presence in Bangladesh

Global consumers are becoming more interested in Bangladesh, streamlining with the emerging confidence of urban consumers. Holding established positions are global brands like Nestle, Modelez International, Del Monte Philips,VLCC, etc. Toshiba and Panasonic are planning to independently operate, without partnership with local marketers. SC Johnson and Son last year already acquired top brand product line ACI Aresol, insect sprays, air fresheners and toilet cleaners.Philips Electronics are the recent company to expand their product lines

Helping Micro-SMEs of former enclaves

Banks asked to lend MSMEs of former enclaves

The Bangladesh Bank has asserted that banks should be lending to the former enclaves, which are now a part of Bangladesh. Lending to those Micro-SMEs can be done in group based format, which currently exist as a mode in banking and non-banking financial institutions. Cottage, micro and medium entrepreneurs who are new Bangladeshi citizens of the enclaves are to be included in group based Micro-SME lending.

SDGs and national integration

Integration of SDGs into national planning stressed 

Center for Policy and Dialogue recently stressed the integration of the Social Development Goals (SDGs) in the national planning process and institutional mechanism. This would be one of the five challenges, the others being inclusion in the financial and non-financial resources, institutional mechanism for implementation, monitoring data and lastly participation and accountability.

Tourism in terror

Tourism takes a blow from killings of foreigners 

It was expected that the end of political unrest in Bangladesh will be able to revive the hard-hit tourism sector, which saw dwindling business from December 2013, two years ago. After political situation returned to cool after early 2015, tourist operators were expecting good business in the coming peak season from October to March. A different set of unrest however, emerged in the form of two international nationals’ murders which have been rumored to be the work of the Islamic State (IS). Linked or otherwise, in the

Metro Rail developments

Expansion of metro rail line planned

A 20 km Metro-Rail line which has already been planned connecting Motijheel to Uttara, will be extended to EPZ at Savar from Uttara and to Kamlapur Railway Station from MotiJheel. The expansion was suggested as their is city expansion occurring in the north-western region owing to industrial development. The initial Mass Rapid Transit line-6 (MRT-6) was planned to be completed by the end of 2019, whereas the expansion is set upon completion for 2035. The expanded network is going to stretch along 41 km, stated the Executive Director of Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA). The Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development (DMRTD) Project is a joint one with Japan (JICA), which will share with Bangladesh the technical and financial assistance.

Of tax and taxpayers

NBR plans door-to-door drive to hunt potential taxpayers 

The NBR has designed a drive to bring in 320,000 tax payers under the net by the conclusion of this fiscal year. A special survey will be launched this month which constitutes the heart of the drive. The "NBR Survey-2015", will attempt to discover 20,000 more taxpayers from each of the 29 tax zonal offices. This survey will be conducted by the field offices in teams, three times a week. Respective zones will receive a list of new taxpayers each month from those teams. NBR team has also put on their agenda to

Headlines, Sept 20 - Sept 22

Welcome to our blog once again. Center for Enterprise and Society regularly provides up-to-date business, society and enterprise development news around the economy, to cater to your informational needs. Hopefully your presence was with us and will continue to be felt in the days to come. 

To a new week and a new start for everyone after the Eid holidays, here are few of the headlines from just before we all went for the break.

Sept 22 :   Mobile Financial Services in need MFS struggling against cash payments
Sept 21 :   A more sustainable country  MDGs developments, Poverty reduction by 2030
Sept 20 :   Headlines, Sept 13 - Sept 17