AKM Moinuddin
UNB Staff Writer
Dhaka, May 24 (UNB) - The long standing demand of country’s pharmaceutical companies to make the pharmaceutical industry globally more competitive, cost-effective and increase export volume through producing quality products, is going to be materialized soon through the setting up of a specialized park for the industry.
The present government has progressed much in setting up the country’s first specialized industrial park - Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) at Gajaria upazila under Munshiganj district for the pharmaceuticals sector which is growing fast.
Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), under the Ministry of Industries, has taken up the project in a bid to produce basic raw materials locally, enhance local and foreign investment and to boost the foreign currency earnings through exports.
The construction work of the park was initially scheduled to be inaugurated formally on June 3 but the date may be changed, Industries Minister Dilip Barua indicates.
“The fresh date of formal inauguration of the construction work is yet to be known. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the construction work of the park,” Minister Barua told UNB over phone on Monday.
The then BNP-Jamaat led alliance government came up with the idea in November 2001 but it had failed to implement the project. Later, the military controlled interim government took the decision for implementation of such a project in Munshiganj district in 2007.
As per the revised project profile, a total of 42 plots with Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) will be accommodated in the park with incinerators for solid and liquid waste management where individual companies will set up API plants.
“Each plant will have approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of the UK and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the USA so that we can produce quality products and export it to the global market without any barrier,” General Secretary of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) and Managing Director of Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd Abdul Muktadir told UNB Correspondent AKM Moinuddin.
He said currently the pharmaceutical sector imports 60-70 % of its basic raw materials from the international market. “We’ll be able to get rid of import dependency through producing basic raw materials locally.”
Among the Least Developing Countries (LDCs), Bangladesh has the strongest base to manufacture pharmaceutical products though the country is addressing the need of the basic raw materials for the industry through importing from India, China, Italy and Germany.
Explaining the benefits of the proposed API Park, the BAPI general secretary says local pharmaceutical companies will produce world’s best quality products through minimizing production cost and be able to export it at high prices apart from addressing local requirements with affordable cost.
He confidently said that the pharmaceutical industry will be able to boost its global competitiveness through producing world’s best quality products in the coming days.
Industry insiders hope that over 25,000 skilled workers will be employed if the project is implemented and nearly one lakh people will be benefited indirectly.
Sources said nearly 200 companies are in operation in the country and Bangladeshi products are being exported to 73 countries.
The API project which will be implemented on nearly 200 acres of land with a total expenditure of over Tk 233 crore, and is expected to be complete by December next year, sources at Industries Ministry said.
On the other hand, owners of pharmaceutical companies in a recent meeting at the Industries Ministry pledged to provide jobs for the affected people in the project area evaluating their educational qualification.
The specialized park will help Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies to be prepared for maintaining growth in local sales and exports and remaining competitive in the post-2016 period, when patents will be imposed on all generic drugs, according to officials of pharmaceutical companies.
In 2001, under the trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights, the World Trade Organisation allowed developing and poor nations to produce generic drugs until 2016 without compulsory licences or paying the patent holders.
The word 'generic' is used to describe a product, particularly a drug, which does not have a trademark. For example, 'paracetamol' is a chemical ingredient that is found in many branded painkillers and is often sold as a generic medicine in its own right.
END/UNB/AKM/ssk/
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Govt opens up VoIP by June-July, country to get own satellite by next 2 yrs--- Telecom Minister Raju
Dhaka, May 16 (UNB) - The government, in a bid to minimize long-distance call costs, has almost finalized opening up the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) business for all under a legal framework, Posts and Telecommunication Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju said on Sunday.
“The guidelines have almost been finalized and international call termination through VoIP will hopefully be opened up by June-July,” Minister Raju said at a crowded press conference held at National Press Club this noon.
Currently, only five companies - Bangla Trac Communications Ltd, Novotel Limited, Mir Telecom, M & H Telecom and Getco Telecommunications - are allowed to use VoIP under license.
The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications hosted the press conference to inform journalists about the government’s plan on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD-2010) which will be observed tomorrow (Monday).
The government will rent out E1 (an all-digital communications line that allows transmission of voice, data, video, and graphics at high speed compared to standard communication lines) connections to the interested VoIP operators once the entire process is complete.
Replying to a question Minister Raju confidently said Bangladesh would have its own satellite within the next couple of years which will ensure quality and faster telecom services to the people.
“As the project is too expensive and has an involvement of approximately Taka 300-400 billion, we’re looking for ‘public-private partnership’ (PPP) initiative to use the satellite for commercial
purposes,” he said.
He said a number of international companies including an US-based company had shown their keenness to set satellite lonely. “But we want public-private initiative.”
Private television channels will be able to avail satellite facilities with affordable cost once country’s own satellite is launched in the space, he said.
“The satellite would serve commercial purposes including improving telecom services, helping to meet the booming demand for it. Telecom operators could subscribe to satellite services on a commercial basis,” he added.
There are several thousand satellites in space, launched by more than 50 countries. Bangladesh's neighbours India and Pakistan launched their own satellites in 1980 and 1990 respectively.
He said that the posts and telecommunications ministry would give final approval to BTRC’s proposal on ‘tariff structure and licensing’ for telecom service providers which was previously done by the BTRC.
Replying to a question, Minister Razu has said that the government is not snatching away any powers from Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
Describing different steps in developing the telecommunications sector undertaken by the present government to make digital Bangladesh, the minister said the BTCL has undertaken a massive
programme for setting up optical fiber and digital exchanges at union, upazila and district levels to reach modern telecommunication facilities to the doorstep of the commoners, especially in rural and
remote areas.
“We’ll ensure digital land-phone in all upazilas within next six months and all cables related to telecommunications will be passed through beneath the soil within the same span of time,” he said.
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is being celebrated annually on 17 May since 1969 to raise the awareness of the people regarding various aspect of ICT.
The event will be celebrated in Dhaka this year though it was celebrated in Chittagong last year. The theme of this year is “Better City, Better Life with ICTs.’
Managing Director of Teletalk Bangladesh Ltd Mohammad Mujibur Rahman, BTRC Chairman Major General (Retd) Zia Ahmed and Secretary to the Posts and telecommunication Ministry Sunil Kanti Bose, among others, were present in the press conference.
“The guidelines have almost been finalized and international call termination through VoIP will hopefully be opened up by June-July,” Minister Raju said at a crowded press conference held at National Press Club this noon.
Currently, only five companies - Bangla Trac Communications Ltd, Novotel Limited, Mir Telecom, M & H Telecom and Getco Telecommunications - are allowed to use VoIP under license.
The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications hosted the press conference to inform journalists about the government’s plan on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD-2010) which will be observed tomorrow (Monday).
The government will rent out E1 (an all-digital communications line that allows transmission of voice, data, video, and graphics at high speed compared to standard communication lines) connections to the interested VoIP operators once the entire process is complete.
Replying to a question Minister Raju confidently said Bangladesh would have its own satellite within the next couple of years which will ensure quality and faster telecom services to the people.
“As the project is too expensive and has an involvement of approximately Taka 300-400 billion, we’re looking for ‘public-private partnership’ (PPP) initiative to use the satellite for commercial
purposes,” he said.
He said a number of international companies including an US-based company had shown their keenness to set satellite lonely. “But we want public-private initiative.”
Private television channels will be able to avail satellite facilities with affordable cost once country’s own satellite is launched in the space, he said.
“The satellite would serve commercial purposes including improving telecom services, helping to meet the booming demand for it. Telecom operators could subscribe to satellite services on a commercial basis,” he added.
There are several thousand satellites in space, launched by more than 50 countries. Bangladesh's neighbours India and Pakistan launched their own satellites in 1980 and 1990 respectively.
He said that the posts and telecommunications ministry would give final approval to BTRC’s proposal on ‘tariff structure and licensing’ for telecom service providers which was previously done by the BTRC.
Replying to a question, Minister Razu has said that the government is not snatching away any powers from Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
Describing different steps in developing the telecommunications sector undertaken by the present government to make digital Bangladesh, the minister said the BTCL has undertaken a massive
programme for setting up optical fiber and digital exchanges at union, upazila and district levels to reach modern telecommunication facilities to the doorstep of the commoners, especially in rural and
remote areas.
“We’ll ensure digital land-phone in all upazilas within next six months and all cables related to telecommunications will be passed through beneath the soil within the same span of time,” he said.
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is being celebrated annually on 17 May since 1969 to raise the awareness of the people regarding various aspect of ICT.
The event will be celebrated in Dhaka this year though it was celebrated in Chittagong last year. The theme of this year is “Better City, Better Life with ICTs.’
Managing Director of Teletalk Bangladesh Ltd Mohammad Mujibur Rahman, BTRC Chairman Major General (Retd) Zia Ahmed and Secretary to the Posts and telecommunication Ministry Sunil Kanti Bose, among others, were present in the press conference.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Minister Barua admits govt’s failure in addressing power crisis
Dhaka, May 11 (UNB) - Industries Minister Dilip Barua has admitted that the government could not proceed as per the “people’s expectations” regarding a solution to the power crisis.
“Undoubtedly it’s a ‘cry of the days’ but unfortunately we couldn’t address the power crisis as the countrymen expected quickly. It’s simply because there has never been a long-term, realistic policy on power generation,” the Minister said while addressing a pre-budget discussion at the National Press Club at noon Tuesday.
Barua, however, sought to assure the public that the government would solve the power crisis through the implementation of its short, mid and long-term plans, and sought time from the people to ensure a country free from load-shedding.
Business Reporters Foundation and Development (BRFD) hosted the discussion. President of Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BMCCI) Syed Moazzem Hossain, former president of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries MA Momen, industrialist Sheikh Masudul Islam Masud and journalist Jibon Islam, among others, addressed the discussion.
Pointing his finger at the BNP-Jamaat alliance government, Dilip Barua said: “Those who are actually responsible for the ongoing power crisis in the country have suddenly become impatient.”
He said the government has made much progress in utilizing all avenues to address the power crisis. “It’s a pro-people government.
Through coordinated efforts power crisis will be solved to encourage both local and foreign entrepreneurs.”
Minister Barua said the government would take necessary steps to modernize the power transmission and distribution systems in the
country. “Increasing generation alone won’t work to solve the power crisis, unless smooth transmission and distribution systems are also ensured.”
Contemplating a long-term solution to the power crisis, he said: “It’s time to go for coal-based power plants. We have world’s best
quality coal.”
Minister Barua emphasized the importance of the transition to an industrialized economy from an agricultural economy.
“We have limited land with a huge population. So, we don’t have any alternative other than switching over to an industry-based economy,” he said.
He said Bangladesh is a unique place for foreign investment. “Now we only need to solve the electricity crisis which is the driving force to encouraging foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country.”
While addressing the discussion, BMCCI President Sayed Moazzem Hossain said the government had provided false data regarding power generation and actual demand in the country in the past.
He asked the government to find out the real demand for power instead of providing false data.
Sayed Moazzem suggested that the government should go for big power plants and fix some priority sectors like the industrial sector instead of the service sector.
He urged the Industries Minister to take effective steps so that coal policy can be approved within the quickest possible time.
“If necessary, the government can bring all the players to the same table to finalize the coal policy and a body styled ‘Sustainable Energy Development Authority’ can be formed to improve the power and gas crisis,” he said.
Former DCCI President MA Momen in his speech said the government should take up transparent programs to solve the power and gas crisis, which is the main impediment to industrialization. “The Country would certainly be going backward without industrialization,” he concluded.
“Undoubtedly it’s a ‘cry of the days’ but unfortunately we couldn’t address the power crisis as the countrymen expected quickly. It’s simply because there has never been a long-term, realistic policy on power generation,” the Minister said while addressing a pre-budget discussion at the National Press Club at noon Tuesday.
Barua, however, sought to assure the public that the government would solve the power crisis through the implementation of its short, mid and long-term plans, and sought time from the people to ensure a country free from load-shedding.
Business Reporters Foundation and Development (BRFD) hosted the discussion. President of Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BMCCI) Syed Moazzem Hossain, former president of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries MA Momen, industrialist Sheikh Masudul Islam Masud and journalist Jibon Islam, among others, addressed the discussion.
Pointing his finger at the BNP-Jamaat alliance government, Dilip Barua said: “Those who are actually responsible for the ongoing power crisis in the country have suddenly become impatient.”
He said the government has made much progress in utilizing all avenues to address the power crisis. “It’s a pro-people government.
Through coordinated efforts power crisis will be solved to encourage both local and foreign entrepreneurs.”
Minister Barua said the government would take necessary steps to modernize the power transmission and distribution systems in the
country. “Increasing generation alone won’t work to solve the power crisis, unless smooth transmission and distribution systems are also ensured.”
Contemplating a long-term solution to the power crisis, he said: “It’s time to go for coal-based power plants. We have world’s best
quality coal.”
Minister Barua emphasized the importance of the transition to an industrialized economy from an agricultural economy.
“We have limited land with a huge population. So, we don’t have any alternative other than switching over to an industry-based economy,” he said.
He said Bangladesh is a unique place for foreign investment. “Now we only need to solve the electricity crisis which is the driving force to encouraging foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country.”
While addressing the discussion, BMCCI President Sayed Moazzem Hossain said the government had provided false data regarding power generation and actual demand in the country in the past.
He asked the government to find out the real demand for power instead of providing false data.
Sayed Moazzem suggested that the government should go for big power plants and fix some priority sectors like the industrial sector instead of the service sector.
He urged the Industries Minister to take effective steps so that coal policy can be approved within the quickest possible time.
“If necessary, the government can bring all the players to the same table to finalize the coal policy and a body styled ‘Sustainable Energy Development Authority’ can be formed to improve the power and gas crisis,” he said.
Former DCCI President MA Momen in his speech said the government should take up transparent programs to solve the power and gas crisis, which is the main impediment to industrialization. “The Country would certainly be going backward without industrialization,” he concluded.
Govt to increase agriculture loan disbursement target, announce new agriculture loan policy by July-BB governor
Dhaka, May 13 (UNB) - The government plans to increase the agriculture loan disbursement target for the next fiscal in a bid to achieve self-sufficiency in food and alleviating poverty through ensuring greater access for farmers to finance, central bank governor Dr Atiur Rahman said on Thursday.
“The target would be slightly higher than in the current fiscal. We’ve already asked all banks to set their own targets individually as we don’t want to impose any target forcibly on them and later we’ll come up with actual figures based on their recommendations,” the Bangladesh Bank boss said.
The agriculture loan distribution target of the current fiscal is 11,500 crore and nearly 78 % of the target has so far been achieved till April. “We’ve two more months in hand and hope to add another 12% to 14 % in the remaining two months,” Atiur said.
The central bank head revealed that the new agriculture loan policy, which will be more farmer-friendly, would be finalized soon, after recommendations from all. “It’ll formally be announced in July and now we’re seeking suggestions from all.”
Dr Atiur disclosed all this while talking to reporters after an opinion exchange meeting with a group of field-level branch managers under state-owned commercial and specialized banks held at the BB’s conference hall today.
The meeting was organized to get feedback on agriculture loan activities from the field-level branch managers of state-owned commercial and specialized banks.
Terming the agricultural sector as the driving force of the economy, Atiur said there is no alternative to patronizing agriculture to boost the country’s economic growth.
Replying to a question the BB governor said they would take all necessary steps in the upcoming agriculture loan policy to simplify agro-loan disbursement system, make the entire process harassment-free and to save the farmers from brokers’ harassment.
“The money of sanctioned loan will be directly deposited to the farmers’ accounts. No need to take help from any broker. And in the coming policy, we’ll clearly mention it,” Atiur said, adding that the situation has already improved a lot.
He indicated that some major positive changes would be brought into agriculture loan policy including removal of operational difficulties, simplification of application form, minimizing the gap between loan sanction and disbursement, decreasing the processing fee and distributing loans through farmers’ own account.
When asked about loan defaulters, the BB governor boldly said they are not favoring ‘loan exemptions’ and want to put an end to the culture of ‘loan exemption’. “We’ve also asked bank officials to give their best efforts for ensuring high loan recovery trend.”
Earlier, in his introductory speech in the meeting, Atiur said the central bank, for the first time, has taken a refinancing scheme of TK 500 crore for the landless farmers and set a target of Tk 100 crore loan distribution till June, 2010.
“Against the pre-set target, 44,000 landless farmers got loans worth Tk 45 crore till April,” he said, asking field-level branch managers to keep their eyes open regarding whether the targeted farmers are getting loans or not in the truest sense.
The central bank boss claimed that strict monitoring of loans to farmers has helped minimize defaults in the agricultural sector. “Credit goes to you all (field-level branch managers) who are directly involved with the farmers.”
Appreciating the role of branch managers, who are directly involved with farmers at the field-level, Atiur said that farmers are now getting the desired services and this has become possible due to their patriotic mentality and sincerity. He also assured the bankers of changing their wage structure.
The BB Deputy Governor Murshid Kuli Khan also addressed the meeting, which was presided over by BB executive director Abul Kashem.
“The target would be slightly higher than in the current fiscal. We’ve already asked all banks to set their own targets individually as we don’t want to impose any target forcibly on them and later we’ll come up with actual figures based on their recommendations,” the Bangladesh Bank boss said.
The agriculture loan distribution target of the current fiscal is 11,500 crore and nearly 78 % of the target has so far been achieved till April. “We’ve two more months in hand and hope to add another 12% to 14 % in the remaining two months,” Atiur said.
The central bank head revealed that the new agriculture loan policy, which will be more farmer-friendly, would be finalized soon, after recommendations from all. “It’ll formally be announced in July and now we’re seeking suggestions from all.”
Dr Atiur disclosed all this while talking to reporters after an opinion exchange meeting with a group of field-level branch managers under state-owned commercial and specialized banks held at the BB’s conference hall today.
The meeting was organized to get feedback on agriculture loan activities from the field-level branch managers of state-owned commercial and specialized banks.
Terming the agricultural sector as the driving force of the economy, Atiur said there is no alternative to patronizing agriculture to boost the country’s economic growth.
Replying to a question the BB governor said they would take all necessary steps in the upcoming agriculture loan policy to simplify agro-loan disbursement system, make the entire process harassment-free and to save the farmers from brokers’ harassment.
“The money of sanctioned loan will be directly deposited to the farmers’ accounts. No need to take help from any broker. And in the coming policy, we’ll clearly mention it,” Atiur said, adding that the situation has already improved a lot.
He indicated that some major positive changes would be brought into agriculture loan policy including removal of operational difficulties, simplification of application form, minimizing the gap between loan sanction and disbursement, decreasing the processing fee and distributing loans through farmers’ own account.
When asked about loan defaulters, the BB governor boldly said they are not favoring ‘loan exemptions’ and want to put an end to the culture of ‘loan exemption’. “We’ve also asked bank officials to give their best efforts for ensuring high loan recovery trend.”
Earlier, in his introductory speech in the meeting, Atiur said the central bank, for the first time, has taken a refinancing scheme of TK 500 crore for the landless farmers and set a target of Tk 100 crore loan distribution till June, 2010.
“Against the pre-set target, 44,000 landless farmers got loans worth Tk 45 crore till April,” he said, asking field-level branch managers to keep their eyes open regarding whether the targeted farmers are getting loans or not in the truest sense.
The central bank boss claimed that strict monitoring of loans to farmers has helped minimize defaults in the agricultural sector. “Credit goes to you all (field-level branch managers) who are directly involved with the farmers.”
Appreciating the role of branch managers, who are directly involved with farmers at the field-level, Atiur said that farmers are now getting the desired services and this has become possible due to their patriotic mentality and sincerity. He also assured the bankers of changing their wage structure.
The BB Deputy Governor Murshid Kuli Khan also addressed the meeting, which was presided over by BB executive director Abul Kashem.
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