The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bangladesh's imports of Malaysian palm oil up by 75pc in 8 months

BSS, Dhaka

Bangladesh imported 149,717 tonnes of palm oil from Malaysia during first eight month of this year (Jan to July 2008), rising by 75.1 percent or 64,213 tonnes from 85,504 tonnes during the same period of last year.

The import of the item during the year 2007 was 154,494 tonnes, according to Malaysian Palm Oil Board report released recently.

Malaysia, the largest palm oil producing country in the world, exported total 9,799,749 tonnes of palm oils in different countries during January to August 2008 against 8,398,755 tonnes during the corresponding period of last year, marking a rise by 1,400,994 tonnes or 16.68 percent.

The country exported total 13,734,752 tonnes of palm oil during 2007.

The major importing countries of Malaysian palm oil include China, 27 European countries, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and the USA. Malaysia exported total 8,434,263 tonnes of palm oil in these countries during 2007. The export during January to August 2008 in these major importing countries totaled to 5,806,940 tonnes against 5,144,398 tonnes, which was 12.9 percent or 662,542 tonnes higher, the statistics showed.

The largest palm oil importer, China imported 2,572,024 tonnes during the first eight months of this year against 2,368,595 tonnes last year, marking a jump by 8.6 percent or 203,429 tonnes. The country imported 3,840,389 tonnes of palm oil during the year 2007.

EU countries imported 1,234,475 tonnes of palm oil during January to August 2008, against 1,317,918 tonnes during the same period of last year, falling by 6.3 percent or 83,443 tonnes. The import of palm oil by the EY countries during last year was 2,063,226 tonnes.

Import of palm oil by Pakistan during last eight months this year increased by 28.8 percent or 178,169, rising to 797,358 tonnes this year from 619,189 tonnes last year. It's import of the same item during 2007 was 1,070,067 tonnes, the third largest.

India imported 421,730 tonnes of palm oil from Malaysia during the first eight months this year, against 303,630 tonnes during same period of last year, indicating a rise by 38.9 percent or 118,100 percent. The country's total import in 2007 was 511,167 tonnes.

The USA imported total 631,636 tonnes of palm oil in eight months this year, from 449,562 tonnes during same period last year, showing a rise by 40.5 percent or 182,074 tonnes. The total import during 2007 was 794,920 tonnes.

Premier Bank steps into Glorious 10th year of success

Premier Bank Limited a private sector leading banking organization of the country, which started its operation in October 26, has completed 09 (Nine) years of its service to the customers successfully and stepped into 10th year of operation.

On this auspicious occasion a simple ceremony was held at Iqbal Centre, 15th Floor RO. by cutting a Big Cake by its Vice Chairman B. H. Haroon as Chief Guest on Sunday.

Sponsor Director Nurul Amin, Md. Lutfur Rahman, Mrs. Saila Shelly Khan were present on the occasion as Special Guest. Sponsor Directors, Managing Director of The Premier Bank and Senior Executives of the Bank were also present in the program.

Chief guest RH. Haroon spoke on the occasion. He said in spite of crisis of world economy, The Premier Bank Ltd is doing well in all respect.

He said that Premier Bank started its operation with the commitment of extraordinary services Haroon thanked the customers of the Bank in the anniversary program for banking with The Premier Bank.

Khondker Fazle Rashid, honorable Managing Director delivered his welcome speech on the occasion.

He said that the bank is working for introducing the newer products and meeting the demand of the time to its customers from the very beginning. Almost every product of the Bank is well accepted by its customers.

As a local bank the Premier Bank has first launched the VISA credit card in Bangladesh. Beside this, the bank has introduced online banking, Islamic banking, SMS Banking, Debit Card, Tele Banking, Retail loan, Corporate loan etc.

In the program, he informed the audience about some newer products like premier 50 + Account, Premier Genius Account and some other attractive products and services.

Among others Additional Managing Director Md. Mokhlesur Rahman, Head of Corporate Dewan Anwarul Latif and other high officials were present on the occasion.

Price and World Fish Centre Partner to raise shrimp farm yields

The USAID-funded Price project and the WorldFish Center announced an immediate initiative to raise shrimp farm yields for the benefit of the entire shrimp sector. Under a subcontract with Price, the WorldFish Center would implement the GHERS (Greater Harvest and Economic Returns from Shrimp) initiative with partner depot owners to provide embedded extension services to 2,000 bagda and golda farmers for the 2009 farming season.

The Bangladesh shrimp and prawn farms have historically had significantly lower yields than competitor countries due to very traditional farming methods. These very low yields have been one of the most serious sector constraints, contributing to significant under-capacity at the processing level. This in turn has also led to significant quality issues due to the fierce competition for supply at the processing level.

Working from a Price office in Khulna, the WorldFish Center will train extension facilitators of the partner depots to train bagda and golda farmers on modified traditional farming techniques to significantly increase pond yields. In recent USAID-funded projects, WorldFish has demonstrated that net yields and profits may increase by over 100 percent.

"This Price initiative will definitely promote increases in production and quality by improving famling methods and farmer group cooperation", said Alan Brooks, Regional Director, WorldFish Center. Accordingly, Price looks to assist up to 15,000 farmers throughout the life of the project, including linking them with progressive processors for export sales. This could result in 50 million USD in sales and 14,000 new jobs for the sector, benefiting the entire value chain.

"The Ghers initiative presents an excellent opportunity for Price to address one of the most serious sector constraints, which is the lack of an adequate supply of raw shrimp and prawn for processing and export," said Bob Webster, Price Chief of Party. " Price and the World Fish Center look forward to working with our partner depots, farmers and processors during this entire initiative, which will complement our other efforts for the shrimp sector."

Price (Poverty Reduction by Increasing the Competitiveness of Enterprises) is a USAID funded project whose objective is to reduce poverty by facilitating the increase of sales, jobs and investment in aquaculture, horticulture, and leather products.

Price's activities will be driven by the demand of the market and will seek for the benefits of growth to be shared with women, young adults, SMEs and fanners as much as possible.

Orientation Programme at NUB held

BUSINESS REPORT

Orientation Ceremony for the fresher MA students in the Governance Studies was held at Northern University Bangladesh's Business Campus on 24 October.

This program was jointly organised by Northern University Bangladesh (NUB) and Bangladesh Civil Service Academy (BCS). Prof. Dr. M Shamsul Haque, NUB Vice Chancellor was present as chief guest on this orientation programme presided over by Prof. Dr. Mahmudul Alam, Head, Governance Studies Department, while M Abu Bakar Siddique, NUB Treasurer, Prof. M.A Razzaque, Dean, Faculty of Business, Dr. Zahirul Hoque Bhuiyan, NUB Registrar, Prof Md. Mohabbat Khan, University of Dhaka, Prof. Dr. Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, Dhaka University, Prof. Abu Ayub Md Baquer, Prof. Sheikh Asraf Ali and Dr. Shahdat Kabir also present on this occasion.

Prof. Dr. M Shamsul Haque said that the main objective of MAGS programme is to increase the managerial capacity of the government executive. MAGS programme made up of some courses from BBA programme, law and ethics and a few from public administration.

He expects that those who will complete the program will not only carry the functional knowledge and skill but also a change of attitude that civil service official can really play the role of changes agent if given a proper and proactive environment.

FBCCI Vice-President elected Vice-President of CACCI

Business Report

Vice President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Abu Alam Chowdhury has been elected the Vice President of Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI).

Abu Alam Chowdhury has achieved this prestigious position competing with many other Asian countries at the 22nd conference of CACCI, said a FBCCI press release yesterday.

CACCI is a regional organization of apex chambers of commerce and industry and business associations, representing the interest of more than three million business enterprises of 23 countries in Asian and Pacific. It serves as a forum for promoting the vital role of the businessmen in the region.

IIBL board meeting held

The 96th meeting of the Board of Directors of Islami Insurance Bangladesh Limited was held recently in the Head Office of the Company at "BIWTA Bhaban" (6th Floor), 141-143 Motijheel C/A Dhaka. Al-haj Mohammad Sayeed, Chairman of the Company presided over the meeting. The meeting was attended by other members of the Board viz. Al-Haj M. Tajul Islam, Vice Chairman, Al-haj Md. Ismail Nawab, Vice Chairman, Tofazzal Hossain, Chairman- Executive Committee, Abdul Halim- Vice Chairman, Claims Committee, Gazi Belayet Hossain, Director, Noor Mohammad Mamun, Director, Al-haj Md. Abdul Hannan, Director, Nur Mohammad, Director, as well as, Md. Mujibur Rahman, Managing Director (C.C.) of the Company.

The meeting discussed about the business position and performance of the Company. After evaluation of different programmes and administrative efficiency, as well as, reviewing performance, the meeting made some important decisions for the improvement of the business of the Company.

Month-long trade fair begins in Gopalganj

UNB, Gopalganj

A month-long trade fair began at Sheikh Kamal Stadium here on Saturday.

Chief adviser's special assistant for Power and Energy Ministry Prof M Tamim formally inaugurated the fair.

Presided over by Kazi Zinnat Ali, president of Gopalganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the inaugural function was also addressed by Police Super M Abdul Quddus Amin and poura mayor Hasmat Ali Sikder Chunnu.

The District Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised the fair. Some 150 stalls and pavilions were established in the fair.

The organizers also arranged circus and puppet show in the fair for the entertainment of the visitors.

Workshop on anti-money laundering concludes in Gaibandha

BSS, Gaibandha

The two-day training workshop on anti-money laundering concluded at the auditorium of Zila Parishad of the town here on yesterday.

Principal office of Sonali Bank Limited, Gaibandha organized the workshop with assistance of Bangladesh Bank.

The objective of the workshop was to make the bank officials conscious about the anti-money laundering procedure so that they could detect the incidents of money laundering and report those accordingly.

Assistant General Manager (AGM) of Sonali Bank Abdur Rahim Khan and AGM of Agrani Bank Ltd. M. Hafizur Rahman were present as the chief and special guests respectively.

Presided over by M. Enamul Haque, AGM of Sonali Bank, the concluding function was also addressed, among others, by assistant directors anti money laundering section of Bangladesh Bank Fazley Rabbi and AHM Rafiqul Islam, senior principal officer of Sonali Bank ASM Rezaul Karim, principal officer Abdus Sattar Khan, and senior officer Shambhunath Saha.

A total of 73 officers of Sonali Bank, Janata Bank, Agrani Bank, Pubali Bank, Rupali Bank, Uttara Bank, Islami Bank, National Bank, City Bank and Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank of the district took part in the training.

BEMSL to represent Malaysian IJN

BUSINESS REPORT

An agreement has been signed between Malaysian National Heart Institution IJN and Bangladesh Eastern Medical Service Limited (BEMSL). With the agreement BEMSL will represent IJN in Bangladesh.

The agreement was singed by Ambassador SM Rashed Ahmed, BEMSL Chairman and also CEO and Datuk Mohd Radzif Mohd Yunus, IJN CEO on behalf of their respective organisations.

The agreement will cater to sending patients to IJN Malaysian for treatment of all kinds of cardiac ailments and everything will be arranged for the intending patients including visa, air ticket appointment with doctors, health screening and accommodation by the IJN representative office in Dhaka.

IJN representative office will also arrange for the training of Bangladeshi doctors as well as nurses at IJN Malaysia.

Apart from cardiac treatment it will arrange for tourism to the patients in Malaysia at a very reasonable cost. IJN has the distinctive advantage of offering halal food, prayer room ad Muslim Imam to pray for the patients.

The agreement singing function was addressed by Malaysian High Commission to Bangladesh Dato Abdul Malek Bin Abdul Aziz, Bangladeshi Ambassador SM Rashed Ahmed, IJN Representative in Dhaka IJN CEO Datuk Mohd Radzif Mohd Yunus and IJN GM (Marketing) Vincent Wan.

A health care presentation on heart disease and its prevention was made by Dr Ahmad Khairuddin, IJN Cardiologist, Malaysia, while the ceremony was conducted by Dr Mahbub Murshed, Advisor IJN representative office Dhaka.