The New Nation - Internet Edition

WFP to give 9,000 tonnes of rice to poor in Bangladesh

BUSINESS REPORT

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) will distribute some 9,000 tonnes of rice worth $7.9 million among 100,000 of Bangladesh's poorest people over the next six months, a WFP official said on Wednesday. "The programme for food distribution among 100,000 ultra-poor people is entirely financed by the government of Japan," said WFP spokesman Enamul Haque. The programme will cover areas prone to floods, riverbank erosion, coastal cyclones and tidal surges. In 2007, Japan contributed more than $70 million to the WFP in Bangladesh, a WFP statement said.

Indian Company to invest US$ 16 ml in Karnaphuli EPZ

BUSINESS REPORTER

M/s. Gokaldas Images (Bangladesh) Pvt. Limited, a Korean company will set up a Garments & Garments Accessories Manufacturing Industry in the Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone.

This100% foreign owned company will invest about Taka 109 crore in setting up their plant and will produce to export annually 5.4 million pcs different types of Garments & Garments Accessories. The company will also create employment opportunity for 3272 Bangladeshi including 108 foreign nationals.

An agreement to this effect was signed between the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority and the M/s. Gokaldas Images (Bangladesh) Pvt. Limited in BEPZA Complex, Dhaka recently. Prasanta Bhushan Barua, Member (Investment Promotion) of BEPZA and Jagadish N. Hinduja, Director of M/s. Gokaldas Images (Bangladesh) Pvt. Limited signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organization.

Brig General Jamil Ahmed Khan, ndc, psc, Executive Chairman of BEPZA and other officials from respective organizations were present on the occasion.

Warid, BRAC Bank sign SMS banking deal

BUSINESS REPORTER

Warid Telecom, the fourth largest mobile phone operator in the country, on Wednesday signed an agreement with BRAC Bank to introduce the SMS banking service for its subscribers.

Following the signing of the agreement, Warid subscribers, who maintain accounts with BRAC Bank, will be able to get basic banking information on their mobile phones through Short Message Service (SMS).

Under the deal, Warid subscribers will be allowed to check their BRAC Bank account information like account balance, latest transaction details, credit card details etc. through SMS to the designated short-code 3939.

SMS Banking is a mobile technology that allows one to request and receive banking information from his or her bank through SMS. Warid Telecom is introducing this service to fulfil its commitment of providing new and innovative value-added services to its customers.

Chief Executive Officer of Warid Telecom Muneer Farooqui and Managing Director and CEO of BRAC Bank AEA Muhaimen signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations at the Corporate Head Office of Warid Telecom at Banani in the city. C

hief Financial Officer (CFO) of Warid Telecom Amyn Merchant, General Manager (Sales) Mahboob Hossain, Head of Customer Service Nauman Fakhar and senior BRAC Bank officials were also present during the signing ceremony.

Commenting on this occasion, Warid Telecom CEO Muneer Farooqui said, "Our subscribers will be benefited from the deal as they do not need to physically visit any branch of the bank and stand in long queues to get basic banking information,"

Giving his reaction on the deal, BRAC Bank CEO AEA Muhaimen said, "It will improve our customer service significantly and make our banking services more convenient and easy for our customers."

Since its commercial operation in Bangladesh in May 10, 2007, Warid Telecom, which invested US$500 million to establish the state-of-art Next Generation Network (NGN), has acquired over 3.0 million subscribers through spreading its network to 64 districts. Warid has aggressive plans to further invest and roll out extensive coverage across Bangladesh.

Grameen-Obopay to offer mobile banking service to Mumbai, Bangladesh

Grameen Solutions of Bangladesh and US-based mobile payment service provider Obopay Inc have announced a tie-up to use cellphone technology to deliver banking services to Mumbai and Bangladesh.

The alliance will begin delivering its services in October this year and work initially in India's commercial capital and Bangladesh, the companies said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

"The Grameen-Obopay initiative will provide access to affordable financial services including cross-border remittances, money transfer, payment, savings and credit accounts", the statement said.

India has the second highest number of households without any bank account in the world (135 million households) and at the same time it is adding eight million mobile connections every month. Therefore, the scope for the Grameen-Obopay Bank initiative is huge, said Obopay Chief Executive Carol Realini.

Mobile technology can effectively deliver financial services to billions of underprivileged people, the companies said.

Under the tie-up, Grameen Solutions, founded by Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus, will provide the domain expertise, while Obopay will offer the technology platform.

"We are looking forward to working with Grameen Solutions to bring truly powerful mobile banking services to the people, Realini said.

Grameen Solutions Chief Executive Kazi Islam said, "We carefully evaluated globally available mobile money service providers with a view to identifying a partner that fits with our vision and mission. Obopay is clearly that partner and we look forward to maximising the global potential of mobile financial services with them."

"By using a technology that is already pervasive, the mobile phone, we will clearly be able to have a dramatic impact on global poverty", he added.

Mobile-based financial services will bring more power to the poor, Yunus was quoted as saying in the statement.

Architecture Week at NSU begins

The celebration of "Architecture Week" started at the North South University (NSU) on August 06, 2008, organised by Department of Architecture. It consists of a week-long exhibition of students work, interuniversity open architecture students design competition, film shows on interview and two distinguished lecture. This year's speaker at the Annual Lecture Event is Architecture.

Lillian Tay from-Malaysia, who will present to lectures, one for the architects and the other for the students of archi tecture.

The Vice Chancellor of NSU Dr. Hafiz GA Siddiqi inaugurated the exhibition, witnessed by among others the sponsor of the component Engr. MA Awal, Ex-President, REHAB, special guest Arc.

Lillian Tay, teachers of the Department, and a large number of students. The exhibition set at Room STR300, NSU shall run till August 12.

General Automation Ltd. opts for GP Business Solutions

BUSINESS REPORTER

Grameenphone Ltd. has recently signed an agreement with the General Automation Ltd. to provide complete communication facilities under its Business Solutions package.

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

General Automation Ltd. is a reputed business entity based in Dhaka. Starting its operations in 1991, General Automation is presently involved in the development of customized hardware and software on Bar-code system, CC TV, Burglar Alarm system, Radio Communication Equipment and other automation products.

Grameenphone Business Solutions, comprising of modern mobile telecommunications services for any business, needs, provides voice, text messaging and mobile data and internet services. Also an 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, General Automation Ltd is being provided complete communications solutions tailored to its needs, including voice, data and other services. General Automation Ltd. will use the services to further improve communication amongst its different offices, at an affordable cost.

The agreement was signed by Saiful Haque Kamal, Managing Director of General Automation Ltd., and Ishtiaq Hussen Chowdhury, General Manager and Head of Direct Sales of Grameenphone, on behalf of their respective organizations.

Md. Reazuddin Biswas, Deputy Managing Director, and Mrs. Shamima Rahman, Executive Director of General Automation Ltd., and Md. Imtiaz Hossain, Group Manager, Imtiaz Salim, Key Account Manager, Direct Sales of Grameenphone, were present at the signing ceremony.

Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards 2008 Nomination closes on Aug 15

BUSINESS REPORTER

The deadline for submitting nomination for Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards 2008 is drawing to a close on August 15, 2008. The winners in four categories -- Best Innovative Micro Business of the Year', `Best Woman Microentrepreneur of the Year', `Best Microentrepreneur of the Year' and `Best Microfinance Institution (MFI) of the Year' -- of this award programme of Citi Foundation (the philanthropic arm of Citigroup) will be announced at the end of the selection process.

A special screening committee formed for this award programme with eminent personalities and experts in this area will screen the applications received in all four categories.

Twenty best finalists will be first drawn out of the initial screening of many responses received so far from different parts of the country, before the winners are finally selected and announced by the distinguished jury panel, said a press release.

All nominations for four categories of awards with complete information are requested to be sent to Shakti Foundation for Disadvantaged Woman (House 44, Road 2/A, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka - 1209) at the earliest.

BKB holds branch managers' conference in Netrokona

BUSINESS REPORT

Md Joynal Abedin, Deputy Managing Director of Bangladesh Krishi Bank speaks at the conference of the branch managers and field officers of the bank's Netrokona Region held at the Zilla Parishad Auditorium, Netrokona on August 4.

Md. Shahjahan Chowdhury, General Manager of Mymensingh Division was special guest at the conference. Chaired by the Regional Manager Subodh Chandra Barman the conference was attended by managers and field officers of all branches and other concerned high officials of the region. The conference reviewed performances achieved by the branches during the past financial year and advised all concerned to make concerted efforts with a view to achieving all business targets of present financial year.

JEL Trading brings in new Macbook product range to Bangladesh

BUSINESS REPORT

'Highly advanced, yet simple to use' - that's what all say about the Apple Macbook. They are not only sleek and fashionable, but they also get overwhelming applauds for the performance they can dish out. Apple Macbooks with its high quality glossy LCD screen is the love and desire of many I.T. and lifestyle consumers. Since the software on every Macbook is created by the makers of Mac itself, you get a completely integrated computer that's as secure, stable, and powerful as it is elegant and easy to use. Apple products are widely used by professionals such as designers, architects and media enthusiasts. The popularity of Apple also stems from its open source system. The MacBook is pre-loaded with Mac OS X v10.5, which includes Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, iTunes, and loads of other 'i' stuffs. It also has lesser threats from viruses in comparison with other regular systems that increase the desirability of owning an Apple.

Apple still remains a high-end product because of its emphasis on quality. The most aspired of all, the Macbook Air - dubbed as the world's thinnest notebook, is already setting a new trend for mobile computing. All that can be said about Apple Macbook is - with all its beauty and brain, it's simply in a class of its own.

Most recently, JEL Trading Bangladesh Ltd is availing Apple Macbook in a high profile campaign in Dhaka. All products are available at Apple Authorized Resellers. Buying only from Apple Authorized Resellers will ensure you of getting a genuine product along with all the necessary product information and after sales service.

Mominul new DMD of IPDC

BUSINESS REPORT

Mominul Islam has been promoted to the position of Deputy Managing Director of IPDC of Bangladesh Ltd recently.

He joined IPDC in 2006 as Head of Operations and played a pivotal role in reshaping the company.

Prior to his promotion, Islam successfully led the company for the last six months in absence of the Managing Director.

Prior to IPDC, he worked in American Express and Standard Chartered Bank at home and abroad in various capacities.

ADTL signs deal with Oval Communication

An agreement was signed between Advance Development Technologies Ltd (ADTL) and Oval Communication Ltd on August 6. Through this agreement Oval Communication has been assigned for the MARCOM activities of Advanced Development Technologies Ltd for the project "Advance Angel City," the first satellite city in Bangladesh.

Top officials of Advance Development Technologies Ltd (ADTL) and Oval Communication Ltd were present at the signing ceremony.