COUNTRY STATEMENT AT ISTANBUL PROGRAMME OF ACTION

Dhaka focuses on foreign financing

Bangladesh has put emphasis on mobilising foreign financing either from multilateral development agencies or from private sources for successful implementation of the “ambitious” development programmes of the country.
“Mobilising foreign financing either from multilateral development agencies or from private sources will be the main factor for successful implementation of the ambitious development programmes of Bangladesh,” said the country statement, which was delivered in the Midterm Review (MTR) in Antalya, Turkey yesterday.
Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative to United Nations Masud Bin Momen delivered the brief statement during the fourth plenary meeting of the MTR on Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA).
The statement said Bangladesh has been continually experiencing over 6 per cent GDP growth rate and as per recent forecasts, the growth rate would reach 7.05 per cent by the end of this fiscal ending in June.
It mentioned that the country experienced an impressive steady economic growth for last two decades despite challenges emerging from global economic recession.
“If two-criterion graduation formula had been considered, Bangladesh could have reached the target of getting out of the LDC category,” said the statement.
It said few issues, including export diversification and duty and quota free market access, would play a vital role in achieving its sustainable development.
The other issues are: addressing non-tariff barriers, preferential market access for services, and trade-related capacity building. Bangladesh has made impressive gains during the first five year of the IPoA.
The country has continued to reach the value of graduation threshold in the Economic Vulnerability Index in several previous triennial reviews as well as in the 2015 review of the LDCs done by the Committee for Development Policy, said the statement.
The Global Competitive Index (2014-15) shows that Bangladesh has also made progress in infrastructure performance rating, up from 2.4 (in 2009-10) to 2.8.
 It termed the ongoing construction of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge without any financial assistance from development partners a hallmark achievement of the country.
The statement also said the private sector has been considered the most vibrant sector in the Industrial Policy of Bangladesh.
It also mentioned government achievement in different areas including around 100 per cent net enrolment in primary education and reduction of infant maternal mortality rate.
The statement reiterates that global migration regimes need to be reformed and LDCs must be allowed to reap the benefits of the population dividends by opening up opportunities to join international labour markets.
Meanwhile, the Civil Society Forum in its report said overarching goal of the IPoA to eradicate poverty, achieving internationally agreed development goals and enabling graduation of at least 50 per cent of the LDCs by 2020 still remains a far cry.
The report, however, said the graduation prospects are promising for few countries, and that the LDCs in general are lagging behind in achieving the IPoA goal on graduation.
Speaking at a sideline event, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, executive director of Coastal Bangladesh, demanded formation of tax commission by upgrading the tax committee to curb the illicit follow of money.

 

COUNTRY STATEMENT AT ISTANBUL PROGRAMME OF ACTION

Dhaka focuses on foreign financing

Bangladesh has put emphasis on mobilising foreign financing either from multilateral development agencies or from private sources for successful implementation of the ambitious development programmes of the country. Mobilising foreign financing either from multilateral development agencies or from private sources will be the main factor for successful implementation of the ambitious development programmes of Bangladesh, said the country statement, which was delivered in the Midterm Review (MTR) in Antalya, Turkey yesterday. Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative to United Nations Masud Bin Momen delivered the brief statement during the fourth plenary meeting of the MTR on Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA). The statement said Bangladesh has been continually experiencing over 6 per cent GDP growth rate and as per recent forecasts, the growth rate would reach 7.05 per cent by the end of this fiscal ending in June. It mentioned that the country experienced an impressive steady economic growth for last two decades despite challenges emerging from global economic recession. If two-criterion graduation formula had been considered, Bangladesh could have reached the target of getting out of the LDC category, said the statement. It said few issues, including export diversification and duty and quota free market access, would play a vital role in achieving its sustainable development. The other issues are: addressing non-tariff barriers, preferential market access for services, and trade-related capacity building. Bangladesh has made impressive gains during the first five year of the IPoA. The country has continued to reach the value of graduation threshold in the Economic Vulnerability Index in several previous triennial reviews as well as in the 2015 review of the LDCs done by the Committee for Development Policy, said the statement. The Global Competitive Index (2014-15) shows that Bangladesh has also made progress in infrastructure performance rating, up from 2.4 (in 2009-10) to 2.8. It termed the ongoing construction of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge without any financial assistance from development partners a hallmark achievement of the country. The statement also said the private sector has been considered the most vibrant sector in the Industrial Policy of Bangladesh. It also mentioned government achievement in different areas including around 100 per cent net enrolment in primary education and reduction of infant maternal mortality rate. The statement reiterates that global migration regimes need to be reformed and LDCs must be allowed to reap the benefits of the population dividends by opening up opportunities to join international labour markets. Meanwhile, the Civil Society Forum in its report said overarching goal of the IPoA to eradicate poverty, achieving internationally agreed development goals and enabling graduation of at least 50 per cent of the LDCs by 2020 still remains a far cry. The report, however, said the graduation prospects are promising for few countries, and that the LDCs in general are lagging behind in achieving the IPoA goal on graduation. Speaking at a sideline event, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, executive director of Coastal Bangladesh, demanded formation of tax commission by upgrading the tax committee to curb the illicit follow of money.