The New Nation - Internet Edition

Grameenphone Ltd. has signed an agreement with the Anlima Group to provide complete communication facilities under its Business Solutions package, says a press release.

GP Business Solutions is an integrated telecommunications service specially designed for e business entities of Bangladesh, providing customized telecommunications solutions through a consultative approach, tailored to the needs of individual businesses.

Anlima Group, one of the large companies in the country, started its operation in 1980. They are one of the market leaders in textile, knit, yarn dying, composite and real estate industries in Bangladesh.

GP Business Solutions, comprising of modern mobile telecommunications services for any business needs, provides voice, text messaging and mobile data and internet services.

Also on offer is a complete Mobile-Office solution, including mobile email, mobile high-speed data access, internet access, mobile fax and more, providing the freedom to work from anywhere within Grameenphone's wide network coverage.

According to the agreement, Anlima Group is being provided complete communications solutions tailored to its needs, including voice, data and other services.

Anlima Group Ltd will use the services to further improve communication among its different businesses, at an affordable cost.

The agreement was signed by Abul Kalam Majumder, Executive Vice President of Anlima Group, and Khandaker Omar Farhan, DGM, Commercial Division of Grameenphone, on behalf of their respective organisations.

Mashiur Rahman, Executive, Accounts & Finance of Anlima Group, Ehatasham Haider, Group Manager, Md. Mamun Alam Topsy, Account Manager, Monerul Islam, Relationship Manager, Grameenphone, were also present at the signing ceremony.

A 16 members Trade and Business team from Myanmar headed by Brig General Aung Tun visited Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) along with other high officials visited Dhaka Export Processing Zone, says a press release. Executive Chairman of BEPZA, Brig. General Ashraf Abdullah Yussuf, personally received the team at DEPZ. In their short visit, the delegates attended a briefing session presented by the Executive Chairman.

During the briefing session, the Executive Chairman, BEPZA highlighted background of EPZs, its performance and operational procedures to the visiting members of the team. He added, EPZs are presently contributing 18 pc to the national export earnings. More than two lakh direct employment opportunities have been created in the EPZs. Presently 264 enterprises are operating in EPZs. The investment, export and employment are gradually increasing. .

During their visit to M/s. South China Bleaching & Dyeing Ind. Ltd., a Chinese company at DEPZ, the Deputy Minister of Commerce of Myanmar discussed important issues relating to investment climate, trade relation and labour issues encountered by the foreign investors.

The trade team expressed his satisfaction on the performance of BEPZA and its operating enterprises. He is impressed by the appreciable contribution Bangladesh EPZs are making in facilitating the industrialization process of the country. He agreed that economic activities of the zones have important impact on the poverty alleviation initiatives undertaken by the government.

Recently an agreement was signed between Banglalink and Mutual Trust Bank Limited. Rashid Khan, CEO of banglalink and Kazi Md. Shafiqur Rahman, Managing Director of Mutual Trust Bank Limited signed the agreement on behalf of the respective organizations.

The agreement makes it possible for banglalink Post-paid customers to enjoy services such as bill payment through Mutual Trust Bank branches along with Auto Debit facilities.

Mr. Ezzeldin Heikal, CFO, M. Nur-E-Alam Siddiquee, Treasury Manager and Md. Mohshin, Cash Mgt. Assistant Manager were present from banglalink.

Quamrul Islam Chowdhury, Deputy Managing Director, A. K. M. Shameem, Executive Vice President H.O, Md. Nurul Islam, Executive Vice President H.O, Nurul Maruf Khan, Vice President and Manager, Gulshan Branch and Md. Ahsanullah Khan, Asst. Vice President, HO were present from Mutual Trust Bank Limited.

AFP, Singapore

World oil prices were flat in Asia on Saturday after a lower demand forecast from the OPEC cartel, dealers said.

The estimate issued by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) coincided with a surprise increase in crude stockpiles reported by the US government.

In afternoon trade, New York's main futures contract, light sweet crude for December delivery, was unchanged at 93.43 dollars per barrel from its close in New York on Thursday, when the contract slipped 66 cents.

The December contract was set to expire on Friday.

Brent North Sea crude for January was nine cents lower at 90.14 dollars per barrel.

December's Brent contract expired at the close of trading in London, where it shed 42 cents to settle at 90.94 dollars.

On Thursday, OPEC lowered its estimate for world oil demand growth in 2007, citing a late winter and high gasoline prices in North America that seem to be reducing consumption.

The cartel, which produces about 40 percent of the world's crude, estimated demand would fall by 100,000 barrels per day in the fourth quarter this year and by 30,000 barrels per day in 2008.

IEA, energy policy adviser to major developed countries, lowered its global oil demand forecast for the fourth quarter of this year.

It cited weaker economic activity in the United States and pointed to an increase of 410,000 barrels per day in OPEC output in October.

OPEC's new estimate came as cartel ministers were defiant in the face of pressure from consumer nations to raise oil output.

Last week, New York's main contract struck an historic peak of 98.62 dollars and Brent raced to an all-time high of 95.19 dollars on fears of tight energy supplies in the United States, the world's biggest energy user.

OPEC heads of state are to hold a rare summit in Riyadh over the weekend.

The US government on Thursday reported that domestic stockpiles of crude had jumped by 2.8 million barrels to 314.7 million in the week ended November 9.

The City bank launched a 2-month long training programme for its corporate, retail and SME officials as part of bank's restructuring plan, says a press release. Managing Director & CEO K Mahmood Sattar inaugurated the event titled 'Learning & Development: Making the Wining Moves'. More than 400 officials will attend the course. International trainers will provide training on retail relationship management and corporate SME business dynamics. At the Inaugural program conducted by Mashrur Arefln, Head of Retail Banking also present were two DMDs Sohail R. K. Hussain & Raihan-ul-Ameen and the business division heads & Principal of bank's Training Institute.

Executives, officials advised to accelerate quick disposal of decisions

A coordination meeting of Wings of Islami Bank Banglajesh Limited was held on Thursday last in the Board Room of the bank, says a press release. M. Fariduddin Ahmad, Executive President of the bank, presided over the meeting, which was attended by the top executives of different Wings, Divisions & Departments of Head office including Mohammad Abdul Mannan & Md. Habibur Rahman, Deputy Executive Presidents of the bank. M. Fariduddin Ahmad in his presidential speech stressed on the coordination and co-operation among different Wings, Divisions & Departments of the bank to accelerate work and quick disposal of decisions for progress of the bank. He called upon officials to acquire information about latest development of global economic condition to face the challenges of new millennium and to establish a new generation banking based on Islamic Shari'ah.

He said, we need trained skilled, knowledgeable & workable manpower who devoted to the mission for establishment of Islamic banking system in the country. He also said that the relationship of the customers with the bank will not be based only on simple customers relationship as traditional banks, but as business partners. To promote it, t sincerity and salesmanship capacity are to be improved.

AFP, New York

The dollar weakened against the euro and the British pound on Saturday in the wake of fresh economic news including a report that showed a surprise drop in US industrial production last month.

US industrial output fell 0.5 percent in October, marking the biggest decline in production since January. Traders said the report weighed on the dollar as it raised concerns about US economic growth. The euro, which has risen strongly against the dollar this year, climbed to 1.4659 dollars compared with 1.4609 dollars late Thursday. On Wednesday, the euro spiked above 1.47 dollars, flirting with its record high of 1.4752 dollars struck on November 9.

The pound rose to 2.0546 dollars compared with 2.0448 late Thursday.

An orientation programme with a view to warming up the newly recruited development officers of Padma Islami Life Insurance Ltd. has been arranged throughout the country. As the part of this programme 'A day-long workshop"’was held in Saifur Rahman Auditorium, Sylhet on 13th November.

The Managing Director Mufti Mowlana M.A. Aziz was the chief speaker in the workshop. Besides, senior development officers of the company were also present.

In his speech, Managing Director asked the newly recruited development officers to accept this insurance business with utmost sincerity and to devote themselves to the service of humanities.

CEMEX Cement Bangladesh Ltd recently organised a massive pleasure trip for their distributors at Cox's Bazar,says a press release. All the distributors of CEMEX through out the country participated in the Get-together. Proprietors of M/s Munayam Khan Babul, M/s Abdul Karim & Sons, M/s Madina Steel Corporation, M/s Karnaphuly Traders, M/s Seema Trading Co., M/s RR Trading Co., M/s Rita Traders, M/s Sarker & Co., M/s Nadia Trading, and other distributors of CEMEX lead by the Commercial Director of CEMEX, Md. Enamul Islam & the other officials attended the two-day long program. All the distributors appreciated this effort of CEMEX very much and thanked the company. They also promised to take CEMEX forward in the long run with bigger sales volume from their part. CEMEX is one of the top global cement companies with an experience of 100 years having operations in more than 50 countries & trade relations in more than 90 countries around the world.