Bangladesh’s Finance Minister AMA Muhith is all hopeful about the country’s economy heading to a better future. According to him, Bangladesh is on its way to becoming a middle income nation and this will help the country in getting more foreign investments. Speaking at a programme on budget issues titled ‘Revenue and Budget’ organised by a television channel in Dhaka that was also attended by Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, the Finance Minister maintained that Bangladesh will earn the tag of middle income country by 2021.
However, he felt that bringing more investment in the country’s prospective sectors is the biggest challenge now and hoped that both the local and foreign investments are likely to go up as Bangladesh has one of the most investment-friendly environments in the world.
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He said, “The country will get the middle income status by 2021, no matter which government is in power then.” When asked whether the middle income status would have an adverse impact on getting trade facilities like GSP, the Finance Minister maintained that after becoming a middle income country, Bangladesh will be able to win the investors’ confidence and investments will come aplenty in the country.
The Finance Minister’s claim was also supported by the Commerce Minister, Tofail Ahmed who said that Bangladesh will not lose the GSP privilege even if it becomes a middle income country. He said, “There has been a significant change made in terms of assistance, which will aid us to keep our privileges.”
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Further speaking on the availability of gas and issuance of new gas connections in Bangladesh, Muhith said that as per the Government’s assessment, Bangladesh will not have gas shortage in the next 40 years. He said, “I can assure the investors, who are in dilemma whether to make investment or not because of gas connection that new gas connection will be given to you all.”
