Public Private Partnership for Economic Integration for Economic Integration Editor’S Note Public-Private Partnership for Regional Economic Cooperation
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
January - March 2017 January - March 2017 A Quarterly Newsletter of ICC Bangladesh Volume 20 > Issue 77 A Quarterly Newsletter of ICC Bangladesh Volume 20 > Issue 77 Public Private Partnership Public Private Partnership for Economic Integration for Economic Integration Editor’s Note Public-Private Partnership for Regional Economic Cooperation Asia remains the fastest-growing region on the planet. Growth in developing East Asia and Pacific is expected to remain resilient over the next three years, according to a recent World Bank report. As a growing region, Asia is the future of the world. By 2030, the Region will represent two-thirds of the global middle class. Southeast Asia will play an increasingly important role in the world economy. Some countries of this sub-region have been categorized as middle-income economies, and have started to turn their attention towards avoiding the middle-income trap. However, the region still faces significant risks to growth and countries need to take measures to reduce financial and fiscal vulnerabilities. The Executive Board Asia’s long standing traditions has helped to promote regional cooperation, however progress is uneven and hence it has left many unrealized opportunities. Recent estimates suggest that Asia Pacific Region is only achieving 47 per cent of its integration potential, and among the President subregions, the largest untapped potential for integration is in South Asia and in North and Mahbubur Rahman Central Asia. Boosting regional integration has the potential to both create economic dynamism and Vice Presidents facilitate shared prosperity through promoting greater market integration, seamless Latifur Rahman connectivity, financial cooperation and stability and improved living conditions. The Rokia Afzal Rahman implementation of the 2030 SDG Agenda requires a fundamental rethinking to set regional integration processes on a path that incorporates sustainability. Further, infrastructure connectivity plays a crucial role in bridging different areas of the Asian Members Region and enabling them to reap the full socio-economic benefits of economic cooperation A. H. Aslam Sunny and integration. Nevertheless, further improvement of infrastructure in the region faces A. K. Azad major challenges due to the lack of effective mechanisms for coordination and dialogue on regional integration through funding infrastructure projects. A. S. M. Quasem On the other hand, infrastructure development is central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Aftab ul Islam Development with at least 12 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) having Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez) a direct link to infrastructure. Across the Asia Region, economic growth as well as broader Kutubuddin Ahmed development of economies is hindered by a shortage of roads, mass rapid transit systems, Mahbubul Alam telecommunications, power plants, water and sanitation and other basic infrastructure, all of which are critical to achieve sustainable development. Md. Fazlul Hoque Recognizing the potential of the private sector for sustainable development, it is vital that the Md. Siddiqur Rahman Asia region develops new forms of partnerships with businesses that go beyond the delivery Mir Nasir Hossain of traditional government-to-government official development assistance and technical R. Maksud Khan support. Such partnerships must go deeper and should focus on key areas of inclusive Barrister Rafique-ul Huq and sustainable development that are of mutual interest, including science, technology and innovation, human resource development, infrastructure development and multi- Rupali Chowdhury dimensional South-South cooperation. Sheikh Kabir Hossain Governments must also take the lead in ensuring that frameworks and national action Tapan Chowdhury plans are in place to allow for greater business contributions to the SDGs and to regional Editor integration goals. Likewise, they must also take steps to eliminate hurdles preventing the private sector from operating effectively, such as irregular or unstable power supply, weak or Ataur Rahman limited property rights, and barriers to cross-border trade. Secretary General Bangladesh is uniquely positioned to take advantage of its location in the eastern sub-region Editorial Associate of South Asia. It can be a centre-point of different initiatives that seek to connect BBIN with Syeda Shahnewaz Lotika the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Bangladesh-India-China-Myanmar (BICM) cooperation arrangement, and also with other East Asian countries. Deputy General Manager With deeper trade, investment and connectivity linkages within the sub-region, Bangladesh can benefit from new markets, new import sources of high-quality and better priced products, Contents increasing opportunities for transport and logistics services. Increased trade will contribute directly to investment and job creation in manufacturing, agriculture as well as services ICC Bangladesh News 2 which will facilitate to achieve its goal to become middle income status by 2021. Bangladesh Economy 39 The first ever UNESCAP Asia Pacific Business Forum was held in Dhaka during 8-9 February. Regional News 49 The Forum concluded with a call for deepening of regional integration in Asia and the Pacific ICC HQs News 52 with the view to lifting millions out of poverty, driving economic growth and achieving WTO News 59 sustainable development goals. ICC Bangladesh News Asia Pacific Business Forum 2017 held in Dhaka Asia Pacific needs to be more integrated : Speakers said he Thirteenth Asia-PacificBangladesh was the Chief Guestand Facilitation for Regional Integration.” TBusiness Forum was held at inaugurated the Forum held on 8 A side event on “Economic the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel February at Pan Pacific Sonargaon in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 8 and Hotel. A keynote address on behalf of Outlook and Key Policy Challenges in 9 February 2017. The Forum was business was delivered by Dr. Victor K. Emerging Asia” was also organized. attended by up to 500 participants Fung, former global chairman of ICC Two pre-Forum events were fromand abroad representing and Chairman of Fung Group. Ms. organized:(a) ESBN ( ESCAP government, business, civil society, Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary- Sustainable Business Network) academia and others. General of the United Nations and ndividual Task Force Meetings on 7 The Forum was organized for Executive Secretary of ESCAP and February (b) Thirteenth Session of the first time in Bangladesh by Mr. Mahbubur Rahman, President of ESCAP Business Advisory Council the International Chamber of ICC Bangladesh delivered a welcome (EBAC) and Third Session of ESBN Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh and address. H.E. Mr. Tofail Ahmed, M.P., on 8 February The event comes at United Nations Economic and Social Hon’ble Minister of Commerce of the a time when the 28-bloc European Commission for Asia and the Pacific Government of Bangladesh delivered Union, the model of economic (ESCAP) under the patronage of theopening address on behalf of the integration, is soul-searching the Ministry of Commerce of the Government. following the shock Brexit vote Government of Bangladesh.. and the new US administration's The overarching theme of the 2-day Partners and sponsors of the inward-looking trade policies. The Forum, “Regional Integration to Forum comprised of the following: International Chamber of Commerce Achieve Sustainable Development” Bangladesh Investment Development Bangladesh co-organised the event was discussed in a Ministerial Authority, Standard Chartered with the United Nations Economic (platinum partners);Bangladesh Plenary Session on: “Linking and Social Commission for Asia and Insurance Association, City Bank, Business with the Sustainable the Pacific (ESCAP) and Ministry of Shasha Denims Ltd. (gold partners); Development Goals: What Can We Commerce-Bangladesh. This is the BergerTrusted Worldwide, Eastland Do?”, two plenary business sessions first time that Bangladesh hosted the Insurance, Green Delta Insurance, on: “Supporting SDGs through event, which has been taking place Joules Power Limited, National Digital Financial Models by Inclusive since 2004. Housing, Navana Group, Reliance Business” and “Supporting and Insurance Limited, The Merchants Empowering Disadvantaged MSMEs The Forum concluded with a call for Ltd., Uttara Finance and Investments to Become More Competitive and deepening of regional integration in Limited (silver partners); The Daily Sustainable”respectively and three Asia and the Pacific with the view Star, The Financial Express, Prothom parallel sessions on the following to lifting millions out of poverty, Alo, Samakal, Channel i, Channel topics: “Devising Strategies for driving economic growth and 24, Maasranga Television were the Resilience: Role of Business in achieving sustainable development media partners and Centre for Policy Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate goals. The objective of the two-day Dialogure (CPD) was the knowledge Change Adaptation”; “New Energy conference was to discuss the role partner of the event. Realities: Building a Resilient and needs of businesses in achieving H.E. Mr. Md. Abdul Hamid, Hon’ble and Low-Carbon Future”; and inclusive, resilient and sustainable President of the People’s Republic of “Supporting Trade and Transport development. January-March 2017 January-March 2 ICC Bangladesh News Opening Session he Opening Session was as an important regional platform necessary but required a sacrifice TInaugurated by H.E. Mr. Md. for multi-stakeholder