Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman said that the Matarbari deep sea port, expected to be become operational in 2026, would be a ‘game changer’ for Bangladesh.

“Especially in infrastructure, we’re doing a lot of work…when the deep sea port in Matarbari becomes operational in 2026, it will be a ‘game changer’ for Bangladesh,” he said.

The prime minister’s adviser said this while responding to a question at a session titled “Business Leaders Panel: Bangladesh -The Big Picture” held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the capital.

The session was part of the three-day Bangladesh Business Summit, 2023 inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today at the BICC in the capital.

Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Md Jashim Uddin, World Trade Organization (WTO) Deputy Director General Ambassador Xiangchen Zhong and CEO of CMA CGM Asia Pacific Limited Laurent Olmeta spoke on the occasion moderated by CNN anchor and business editor at large Richard Quest.

Salman said that the present government has been continuing its efforts to increase the capacity of Chattogram Port, Mongla Port and Payra Port.

Turning to the issue of grooming skilled manpower, he said that the government has been working for ensuring upskilling of human resources while the academic courses of the schools, colleges and universities are also being designed to face the 4IR.

Replying to another question, Salman said that the government is fixing the big things or issues side by side addressing the small things to move forward the country.

He said that the government wants to use the technology to empower the citizens wirh an aim to build Smart Citizens, Smart Society and Smart Government.

The prime minister’s adviser informed that discussions are going on with the concerned authorities of Japan, Singapore and Saudi Arabia to have support in operating the sea ports of Bangladesh.

In this regard, he said that the government would not give any ownership rather some concessions to the interested parties to operate the ports.

When his attention was sought by CNN anchor Richard Quest on the traffic congestion in the capital, Salman said Bangladesh is still at the growing stage with the ongoing works of many transforming projects like metro rail. “If you come here again after 5 years, then the current two hours ride will take only 20 minutes,” Salman added.

Responding to a question from the Richard Quest, the FBCCI president said that they want the government to provide policy support, logistics support and infrastructural development for the industries.

“We want to develop our Human Resources and skills for accelerating our trillion dollar journey,” he said, hoping that there would be no ‘red tape’ in future while the business community would drive the economy forward.

Replying to another question, Jashim said he was not a frustrated man, rather the happiest man on the planet since the global CEOs and other high officials of global giants are taking part in this three-day Summit.

“We came here to accelerate our trillion dollar journey, we want to go forward and work together,” he added.

The FBCCI president said although the country’s export earnings were heavily dependent on jute just after the independence, with the passage of time, the focus shifted to RMG. But, now the jute, pharmaceuticals and light engineering, specially IT, have huge scopes.

He said that they are also focusing on making the exports more sustainable side by side the big green factories are also being located in Bangladesh.

The WTO deputy director general said that Bangladesh has huge scope for development in the shipping and logistics sectors, adding that the mega infrastructural projects are moving forward the economy.

He also noted that it is also very much necessary to ensure the facilities of these development projects becoming more widespread and far- reaching.