Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) President Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury Parvez on Thursday sought German support for grooming Bangladeshi human resources as the country is on course to become a developed one by 2041.
Parvez said this when he made a courtesy call on German Ambassador in Dhaka Achim Tröster at the latter’s office in the capital.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has set a target to turn the country into a developed one by 2041. The economy has been growing at 7-8% over the years under her leadership, he also said.
Mentioning that the country would require skilled and trained workers in different industrial sectors, the BCI president also said that the German government and industrialists could help Bangladesh in grooming necessary manpower in the country.
BCI is working with the government in creating new entrepreneurs in small and medium enterprises. The cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises (CMSMEs) are the backbone of the economy that requires trained and skilled manpower, he added.
Parvez, also former BGMEA president and managing director of Evince Group, said German trainers can use the existing infrastructure of Directorate of Technical Education in imparting training to Bangladesh trainers who, in turn, help groom skilled workers required in the industrial sector.
Bangladesh’s textile and clothing sectors also require trained and skilled manpower.
As Bangladesh has the highest number of green plants in the readymade garment sector, he urged the envoy to pursue the German companies to increase import of Bangladeshi goods.
Against this backdrop, German companies can invest in Bangladesh to produce goods that can cater to local and international markets, BCI boss said.
"As BCI is the only national industry chamber operating in the country, we all must try to play the necessary role in overcoming all obstacles in the way of all local industries," Parvez added.
Terming Bangladesh the biggest trading partner among EU countries, German Ambassador in Dhaka Achim Tröster said that Bangladeshi entrepreneurs would maintain better working conditions and uphold human rights of workers.
The German ambassador also appreciated the BCI initiative and assured of his country's cooperation in bringing various trainers from the private sector including GIZ of Germany to Bangladesh.
Emphasizing the environment, the German envoy said that the natural environment should be protected by the industrialists of the country.