An international seminar on planning for Integrated local community development (ILCD) began at the centre of Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) here yesterday, reports BSS.

Jointly organised by the National Productivity Organisation (NPO) of Bangladesh. CIRDAP and the Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), the 10-day long seminar is being attended by delegates from 15 countries In the Asia Pacific region.

The objective of the seminar is to strengthen local capacity for sustainable community advancement by enhancing individual and collective contribution to productivity increase and better quality of life.

Inaugurating the seminar. Industries Secretary M Akhtar Ali said the main objective of the industrial policy of the government of Bangladesh is to develop the industrial sector in order to increase its contributions to the GDP. national income. employment generation and promotion of productivity in all spheres, specially in the Industrial sector.

He said planning for ILCD could upgrade the fife style of the rural people by improving their economic power through creating surplus from managing and utilising the available local resources.

Akhtar All said the role of the government in the economic activities, particularly in the industrial sector, had been shifted from regulatory to promotional and supportive aspects with more emphasis on private sector and free market economy.