The New Nation - Internet Edition

BUSINESS REPORT

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) on Saturday celebrated its 50th founding anniversary and chalked out a year-long programme. On March 8, 1958, the DCCI was founded through unification of Old Dhaka Muslim Chamber and United Chamber under the Companies Act 1913. "We have also taken steps to celebrate the 400 years of Dhaka, which was declared a capital city in 1608," Hossain Khaled, DCCI president said at a press briefing in the city.

"While celebrating our past we cannot forget our uncertain future. Bangladesh business has now reached a crossroad and unless it re-invents itself it will not be able to reap the benefits of globalisation," he said, adding for this purpose, the DCCI is initiating for the first time ever, to brand businesses of Bangladesh.

He said the business community feels that the country would lose out in having access to important markets and adding value to local products unless the business of Bangladesh follows some high standards.

As part of the year-long programmes, Hossain said top events would be holding two economic seminars on trade, commerce and investment in September and October.

He said the UK minister for Trade, Digby Jones, is expected to participate in the seminar leading a delegation of non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) in September to discuss future British investment in Bangladesh.

Another international economic seminar that will be held at the end of October will discuss topical issues on trade to draw the attention of government high-ups, politicians and trade bodies both at home and abroad, including countries of Europe, Far East and the USA, Hossain said.

In commemoration of the golden jubilee, he said the DCCI has arranged programmes that will reflect the tradition of Old Dhaka.

The programmes will include kite-flying competition on March 29, competition on Old Dhaka jokes, and a quiz contest on the commercial history of Dhaka and DCCI on TV channels, rickshaw race in the middle of September in a city thoroughfare and food festival.