Kazi Akramuddin Ahmad, Former President, FBCCI

Kazi Akramuddin Ahmad, Former President, FBCCI : The upcoming budget has to prioritize ICT, Pharmaceuticals and other alternative industries alongside the garments industry. Our garments industry is doing well and it is obviously good news for us but we also have to create alternative sectors as well. We have fisheries and ICT. We have a pharmaceuticals industry as well. We also have to think about industries that could grow. We cannot focus on just one industry and not create alternatives.
Vietnam or some other country could one day surpass us. We have to prepare for such situations and take the necessary steps. We have to develop alternative industries to make our economy strong. For this, we have to work together.
Our garments industry is currently performing well. For a long time we have been achieving great things in garments, which is why our garments sector is famous throughout the world. The government will provide support like in the past so that this industry will go on to perform even better – This is what I hope.
In the past, we gave many kinds of incentives to the apparel industry so that it can move forward. It received all the support needed to fight the obstacles in its path forward. Businessmen received whatever they wished whenever they wanted it. If the budget has to prioritize the apparel industry then it has to give the same benefits to the businessmen as well. They too have to understand there are other sectors in the country. All potential sectors have to be supported. I believe that if alternative, powerful sectors can be created then it can play an important role in the stable and lasting development of our economy.
Based on an interview by Ashiq Rahman, translated by Abrar Hussain.