The President of Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI), Sharif M Afzal Hossain, expects the government will formulate Eoper policy to face the chal-iges of 21st century to reflect it in the country's next budget.

He said the budget for the year 1997-98 is very important because it will be a turning point for the country to enter into the globalised economic atmosphere without any protection for any country.

In an interview with The Daily Star, Afzal said as all kinds of tariff barriers will be withdrawn after the year 2005, the country’s economy will have to be made viable before that period to survive that critical situation.

To achieve that goal, the next budget should give emphasis on infrastructural development, promotion of investment. employment generation, increase in productivity and poverty alleviation, he mentioned.

The BCI president said the next budget should fix some targets in different sectors to be achieved for development of the country's overall economy.

In this regard he said to face the economic challenges in the next millennium, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) has to be increased up to J2jier cent from the existing five per cent dnd the industrial sectors contribution to the GDP to at least 20 per cent.

To create a broad industrial base, the industrial sector should grow at an annual rate of 25 per cent, Sharif observed.

On the question of government's on-going economic reform programmes like financial sector reforms and privatisation of the state-owned enterprises, he said the government should privatise all public sector companies suffering losses ovfer the years.

"Why will the people bear the burden of He 2,500 crore every year for the losing concerns?" he asked.

If nobody wishes to buy any loss-making industry, the government can go for management contact with them who want to run the industry to make ft profitable., , at

Following a privatisatwfrf programme, the authorities should extend support for technological improvement and

create fund for operating capital.

He said we need good exportbase industries to penetrate into the protection free and competitive world market after the year 2005

Urging all political parties to give priority to the economic activities. BCI president said economic development should be the focal point for all kinds of politics activities.

About the promotion of local and foreign investment, he spoke of political stability in the country and without it. nobody would come forward for investment.

He also urged the political leaders for reaching a consensus that no political programme — disturbing the economic activities — would be given in the future. In this re-S'ard he urged the ruling party or taking the initiative.

The BCI leader believes that any elected government like the present Awami League can carry out reform programmes with strong hands.

He felt that the government should take pragmatic decisions on sick Industries. Every government forms a committee which arranges seasonal meeting but cannot bring any fruit-, ful results to those industries.

BCI .president suggestedJn-trpductfon of cooperative ebci-eaes’ln rural agriculture to help increase farmer's income and raise farm productivity.