PM calls for Spanish investment in SEZs
BSS
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said Bangladesh would welcome Spanish investors in the Specialized Economic Zones (SEZs) being set up in various parts of the country to expedite employment generation and economic growth, reports BSS.
Spain can invest in various sectors of Bangladesh particularly in power, energy and shipbuilding sectors in those areas for mutual benefit of both the countries, she said.
The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said this when newly appointed Ambassador of Spain to Bangladesh Eduardo de Laigiesia y Del Rosal
called on her at her Tejgaon office here yesterday.
Briefing reporters after the meeting PMs Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said the prime minister congratulated the Spanish envoy on his new assignment in Bangladesh and assured giving all support in discharging his duties.
Sheikh Hasina said, her government has set a goal of turning the country into a middle income nation through implementing Vision-2021 and has been working to this end.
The Spanish envoy expressed his firm conviction that Bangladesh would be able to reach the target as visualized by the prime minister, the press secretary said.
Sheikh Hasina highlighted the success of her government in various sectors over the last few years saying Bangladesh has been able to maintain over six percent GDP for the last couple of years.
Besides, the poverty level has already reduced to 22 point 4 per cent from 40 per cent due to pragmatic steps and pro- people programmes implemented by her government, Sheikh Hasina said.
The prime minister pointed her governments success in increasing power generation and said Bangladesh now has achieved the capacity of generating over 13 thousand Mega Watt electricity which was only 3200 MW at the beginning of 2009.
She said the government is working for further enhancement of electricity generation utilising different sources including coal based power plants and promoting solar power.
Talking about her governments policy on the blue economy, Sheikh Hasina said, the government wants to utilise huge potentials of the sea resources after Bangladeshs acquiring more maritime areas.
Sheikh Hasina said geographically Bangladeshs location is very important. In the backdrop of resolving all problems related to land boundary with neighbours she said Bangladesh wants to be a pacifist and developed nation in South Asia.
Sheikh Hasina hoped that the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Spain would be further strengthened during the tenure of the new Spanish envoy. In this connection, she stressed the need for exchanging visit of high level delegation.
Spanish Ambassador termed the relation between Bangladesh and Spain as historic and is based on common bond. Economic relation between the two countries is also good, he said stressing the need for carrying forward the relation.
In this regard the envoy said there could be more cooperation between the two countries in the areas of power, energy and railway sectors. Spain has expertise on green energy as well as experience on high velocity trains, he said.
Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad and PMO Secretary Suraiya Begum were present.
