Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu yesterday hoped Bangladesh will get priority in the efforts UNCTAD would take to divert private investments at innovative sectors of developing countries like Bangladesh.
He stressed the need for adequate investment flow to the less developed countries to help them achieve sustainable development goals.
“I have urged the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to come forward and invest more in countries, including Bangladesh, which runs the risk of climate change,” Amu said, addressing a press briefing at the Industries Ministry.
The briefing was to share views about the UNCTAD’s World Investment Forum-2014, which was recently concluded at Geneva, Switzerland.
“I told the conference that the total investment needed for implementing sustainable development goals in the developing countries alone could be about $3.9 trillion every year, as against the current investment of around $1.4 trillion,” Amu said.
The programme also focused formulation of a platform with both government and private initiatives to increase the investment flow, he adds.
The minister also said Bangladesh was showcased as an investment-friendly country at the conference.
“To attract foreign investments, we showcased our initiatives and activities to the forum. The participating countries and the multinational companies will now have a new idea for investments in Bangladesh,” the minister hoped.
Stressing more investment, he said: “There is a huge amount of money in the private sector, but not being invested in the creative sectors to achieve the targets.”
The four-day multi-stakeholder conference was designed to facilitate dialogue and action on the world’s key emerging investment-related challenges. The World Investment Forum is considered to be a platform that promotes investment flows to sustainable and inclusive development among its member nations.
From Bangladesh side, Amir Hossain Amu led the eight-member delegation, consisting of the Board of Investment Executive Chairman Syed Abdus Samad, Bangladesh Ambassador to Switzerland M Shameem Ahsan, Industries Ministry Additional Secretary Begum Parag, Joint Secretary Begum Afroza Khan, Deputy Secretary M Fahimul Islam, Foreign Ministry Director Shanchita Haque and BoI Deputy Director M Ariful Haque.
