The New Nation - Internet Edition

FBCCI team leaves for China

A 32-member business delegation of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) left here yesterday for Kunming, China to attend the 3rd China-South Asia Business Forum. The three-day forum was scheduled to begin today, said a FBCCI press release. The Forum, which has the support of business leaders of regional and apex chambers of the South Asian countries, will tackle a number of regional and international economic issues from the perspective of private sectors' role in economic and social development. During the visit, the FBCCI delegation, under the leadership of FBCCI Director SM Shafiuzzaman, will meet the Vice Prime Minister and Governor of Yunan Province of China and Chairman of CCPIT. They will also have meetings with their counterparts and dignitaries of the province. The delegation will attend the opening ceremony of Kunming Import and Export Commodities Fair where they will interact with the Chinese entrepreneurs. They will also visit Guanzi city during the visit. The business delegation is expected to return home on Monday.

Danish support to agriculture sector in Bangladesh

The agricultural sector plays a very significant role in the Bangladeshi economy as well as socially and culturally. The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) emphasizes agriculture and rural development as key sectors for poverty reduction and pro-poor economic growth.

Denmark and Bangladesh have a long history of bilateral cooperation in agriculture, fishery and livestock. The Danish support to the agriculture sector started in late 80s and in 90s with Mymensingh Aquacultural Extension Project (1989), and later Smallholder Livestock Development Project (1992), Integrated Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Management Project (1993), Integrated Pest Management Project (1997), Patuakhali, Barguna Aquacultural Extension Project (1997), Participatory Livestock Development Project (1998) and Greater Noakhali Aquacultural Extension Project (1998).

Denmark's strategy to support the agricultural sector in Bangladesh includes a strong poverty reduction focus, together with special emphasis on poorer women, nutrition, marketing and environment. The support emphasises technology generation and delivery of essential services nearer to the farmers' doorsteps.

Denmark's support to agricultural development in Bangladesh has consistently been channelled through Government of Bangladesh. This approach has been advantageous since these interventions have been well anchored at national level and have had significant impact on present policies and strategies. Denmark also aims at harmonising its development assistance with other donor funded programmes in the same sector and geographic areas.

In July 2000 the Governments of Denmark and Bangladesh launched a sector programme support for agriculture i.e. Agriculture Sector Programme Support Phase I (ASPS I). Ongoing, successful Danida financed projects initiated before 2000 and a few new projects-a total of 15 components on crops, fisheries, and livestock - were brought under the umbrella of the sector programme with the purpose of bringing more coordination and integration. The ASPS I also covered support to agricultural policy development. ASPS Phase I was completed in September 2006. The following results were achieved through ASPS I:

Crops Sub-Sector: Around 440,000 farmers trained on improved crop production technology.

Fishery and Livestock Sub-sectors: Around 600,000 farmers trained on improved aquaculture and livestock technology

Minor Road Components: 465 kilometres of rural roads were constructed. 3.3 million labour-days were generated to the benefit of 28,000 rural women.

Policy Development: National Integrated Pest Management Policy was a direct output of the Danish supported Integrated Pest Management project. Danish interventions also contributed in the formulation of other agricultural policies and strategies.

As a result of the annual consultations between governments of Denmark and Bangladesh in 2004 it was agreed to continue a second programme phase (ASPS II). The second phase is based on the lessons learnt from the first phases of the ASPS I and the Transport Sector Programme Support (TSPS).

Agriculture Sector Programme Phase II (2006-2011) addresses key strategic issues such as a) capacity development of farmers by involving poor women and men in Farmer Field Schools and promoting the spread of knowledge through training of Farmer Trainers, b) promotion of farmers organisations, c) develop the negotiating capacity of farmers organisations to formulate and demand adequate agricultural extension services from the public and private sector, d) agricultural diversification in particular in livestock and fishery/aquaculture with increased awareness about production, food use and nutrition linkages, e) promoting decentralisation in agriculture through capacity development of Union Parishads f) integration of minor road activities into the ASPS with support to rural roads and market access, g) capacity development of relevant government department/agencies and h) providing support to the Planning Commission and the line ministries for institutional and policy development.

ASPS Phase II consists of three components, namely 1) Regional Fisheries and Livestock Development Component promoting integrated aquaculture/fishery and livestock development and implemented jointly by the Department of Livestock Services and the Department of Fisheries, 2) Agricultural Extension Component promoting integrated crop management through Farmer Field School implemented by the Department of Agricultural Extension, and 3) Rural Road and Market Access Component implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department. In addition to these three components support is provided to the institutional support units in the Planning Commission, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Ministry of Agriculture. The total budget of ASPS II is DKK 610 million with DKK 531 million (87%) Danish contribution

ASPS II targets to a) train 200,000 poor households on integrated crop management, b) train 500,000 poor households on improved aquaculture and livestock technology and c) construct 250 kilometre rural roads and create 2.3 million labour days to the benefit of 15,000 rural women.

Sri Lankan envoy visits BEPZA

BUSINESS REPORTER

Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Bangladesh Vadivel Krishnamorthy along with some potential investors from Sri Lanka, paid a visit which was followed by a fruitful discussion with Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) Brig General Jamil Ahmed Khan, ndc, psc, in BEPZA Complex, Dhaka on June 2.

BEPZA Chairman apprised the envoy the activities, performance and present initiatives of the authority.

They also discussed issues pertaining to mutual interest. The envoy appreciated the role and management of zone and its entrepreneurs by BEPZA and further assured all possible cooperation and assistance of Sri Lanka in the development pursuit undertaken by BEPZA.

Brig Jamil said that the main attraction of EPZ is peaceful investment climate and its success In uninterrupted production oriented working atmosphere and the congenial relationship existing between the workers and the investors. He sought cooperation for more foreign investment from Sri Lanka.

Krishnamorthy also referred that Sri Lanka is one of the promising investors in EPZs of Bangladesh.

He said that his country would like to work in close cooperation with the Bangladesh EPZ Authority in its quest to bring more investment due to prevailing peaceful and uninterrupted excellent production oriented atmosphere in the EPZ areas. He mentioned that BEPZA is playing a pivotal role for economic development of the country.

DBBL serves distressed humanity while observing birth anniversary

BUSINESS REPORTER

Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited celebrates its birth anniversary with a mission to serve distressed humanity. Its 12th anniversary was observed on June 3 by undertaking a number of philanthropic-and social activities for the over all benefit of the society.

Among others, the bank has stepped forward to stand by the cleft-lipped boys and girls to bring, back the endearing smile on their faces by plastic surgery at bank's cost.

A three-day long plastic surgery camp has been launched at Central Hospital, Dhanmondi, Dhaka on June 3. A surgery team consisting of five members headed by the eminent plastic surgeon Prof. A. J. M. Salek is conducting the surgery program. National Professor Dr MR Khan, Managing Director of Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited Md Yeasin Ali and other senior executives of the bank visited the operation camp and inquired about the operated cleft-lipped boys and girls at the hospital.

In this connection, a discussion meeting was also held at the conference room of the hospital. Among others, National Prof. Dr MR Khan took part in the discussion and lauded the role of DBBL's philanthropic activities.

He congratulated the Board of Directors, sponsor shareholders and other shareholders on the occasion of the bank's 12th anniversary.

In his address, the Managing Director categorically mentioned that the bank, instead of spending money in-conventional ways for observing birth anniversary, has taken a number of philanthropic and social programs for the betterment of the distressed people.

EBL sales conference 2008 held

Annual Sales Conference 2008 of Eastern Bank Limited (EBL) was held at a city convention centre recently. EBL Consumer Banking Sales team from all over Bangladesh participated in the day-long conference.

EBL Managing Director and CEO Ali Reza Iftekhar inaugurated the conference, while DMD and Head of Consumer Banking Mamoon Mahmood Shah moderated the programme. DMD & Head of SME Banking Muklesur Rahman along with other high officials of EBL also attended the sales conference.

IBBL holds workshop on 'Business Promotion, Capacity Enhancement'

A workshop on "Business Promotion and Capacity Enhancement" was held for the Managers, Investment Officers, Foreign Trade and Remittance Officers of Comilla Zone of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited recently at BARD's Auditorium, Comilla. It was organized by Comilla Zone of the bank.

Mominul Islam Patwary, Chairman, Executive Committee of the bank was present in the workshop as chief guest and M Fariduddin Ahmad, Managing Director of the bank as special guest.

The sessions were presided over by Md. Najibur Rahman, Executive Vice President and Zonal Head, Comilla. The workshop was addressed by Mohammad Abdul Mannan, Deputy Managing Director and Head of Investment Wing and Md Habibur Rahman, Deputy Managing Director and Head of International Banking Wing.

Mominul Islam Patwary emphasised upon the development of professional efficiency and quality of all staff and officials of the bank in order to make Islami Bank as a model bank in the arena of Islami Banking.

New chairman and vice chairmen of Bank Asia

Anisur Rahman Sinha has been elected Chairman and M. Shamsul Alam and Anwarul Amin have been elected Vice Chairmen of Bank Asia at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the bank held on June 1.

Sinha is an eminent industrialist of the country. He is the Chairman and CEO of Apex Garments and Sinha Textiles, and Chairman of National Telecommunication Ltd. He is the sponsor Director of Lafarge Surma Cement, the largest cement manufacturing plant of the country. He has also built up a large agro and agro processing industry.

Anisur Rahman Sinha is the former President of BGMEA. He received National Export Trophy (Gold) for the last seven consecutive years as the best exporter.

Vice Chairman M. Shamsul Alam has 47 years' experience in the field of insurance, banking and development financing. He was the Managing Director of Sadharan Bima Corporation, Jiban Bima Corporation and Reliance Insurance Ltd. He was also associated with different non-banking financial institutions, public limited companies and trade bodies. He has recently been appointed as Chairman of Sadharan Bima Corporation.

Vice Chairman Anwarul Amin is a very senior and respected banker of the country. He was the General Manager of BCCI (China), BCCI (Japan) and Bangladesh Shilpa Bank and Deputy Managing Director of Uttara Bank. He was the Chief Manager of Eastern Banking Corporation in the then East Pakistan.

Mosharraf Hossain joins IFIC Bank as new MD

Mosharraf Hossain, a top-notch public sector banker of the country who has been active in banking service for the last 38 years, has recently joined IFIC Bank Limited as Managing Director.

Prior to this position, Mosharraf Hossain was the Managing Director of Standard Bank Limited for the third consecutive term and under his dynamic leadership the bank has taken a new momentum to its ever growing prosperity.

Because of his meritorious predominance and distinctive competence in 38 years of banking career, he is well known as an innovative, efficient and an all round banker to his colleagues and customers. In his multi dimensional banking service, Hossain participated in many training programmes on banking at home and abroad. He received training on International Banking from Deutche Bank AG of Germany. He also participated at the "International Bankers Seminar2005" arranged by HSBC, New York, USA. He is the descendant of late Zaminder Golam Ali Chowdhury of Shariatpur district and son of late Ali Afzal Chowdhury. He bears a strong and pleasant personality and blessed with one daughter and three sons.

Settlement of motor insurance claim by IIBL

Islami Insurance Bangladesh Limited has promptly settled the Motor Insurance Claims arose due to accident of the vehicle purchased by Md. Humayan Kabir, Nur Nabi (Representative of Begum Asma Nur, Vice-Chairman, Claims Committee), IIBL, handed over the claim cheque to Md. Humayun Kabir in presence of Md. Zainul Huda, Managing Director and Mr. Mahabub Hasan Shibly, Sr. EVP and Branch In-charge, Rajuk Branch of the company.

PILIL secretary Habibur Rahman off to Riyadh

Habibur Rahman, Company Secretary, Prime Islami Life Insurance Limited has left Dhaka for Riyadh, K.S.A to represent the company in 4th Bangladesh Single Country Trade Fair scheduled to be held from June 5 to 9 at Hotel Riyadh Palace.

The programme has been arranged by Bangladesh Business Community (BBC). Noor-E-Alam, JEVP (Dev) and In charge Dhaka Zone-01 will be accompanied with as his entourage. Both of them will come back to the country on June 12.