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Help enterprises with easy credit

A leader of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry says start-ups need protection

Prabir Barua Chowdhury, Chittagong
EVERY businessman first focuses on establishing the business to give it a firm footing. It is only after that an entity can contribute to the economy, said Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury, senior vice president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).
The chamber leader has been doing business in the insurance and gas refuelling sectors and has recently stepped into the steel sector.
“All of these have been contributing to the national economy and creating jobs for the local people,” said Chowdhury, also a leading food items exporter and importer.
Chowdhury observed that small traders in Chittagong face problems in the initial stages of setting up their businesses in terms of getting loans.
“No-one here is ready to give loans to small traders at low interest rates. Different private banks have been issuing loans at 15-18 percent, which is too high for small traders," Chowdhury said.
“If we want to turn the country into a middle-income one, we have to decentralise the capital to people.”
In addition, local traders suffer from power shortage that hampers industrial production, said Chowdhury, who also president of the Khatunganj Trade and Industries Association.
On policies on trading, he said it should be the first duty of a government to ensure a business friendly
environment and policies for the business community.
“The government should not control business activities. It has to adopt policies that will create competition among the traders.”
On power constraints in Chittagong, Chowdhury said the condition of the energy sector is better than before, but it is still not up to the mark The situation will improve once local industries can use gas at Semutang, he added.
“The managing director of
Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Ltd (KGDCL) told me that the gas from Semutang has been provided to Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Ltd (CUFL)," said the CCCI leader.
“Industrial units in the port city are facing an embargo on using gas, while gas is now supplied to the local industries for only three days a week”
He stressed the need for supplying gas from Semutang and Saida to factories in the port city.
He said the government could import gas from Myanmar for the local industries if needed, and it should look at alternate sources of energy as well.
Expressing satisfaction over the law and order situation in the port city, he said the situation is better than before and the local police administration is helpful towards the traders.
He said it would be better if the community police could be set up for wholesale markets, like
Khatunganj, to stop any wrongdoing.
The government should set up all government and private bank headquarters or appoint a deputy managing director (DMD) of every bank in the port city, Chowdhury proposed.
When one applies for a loan at any bank, officials send the documents to Dhaka, which is nothing but a waste of time, he said. The same happens when a trader applies for a letter of credit, he added.
Describing CCCI's role in the business sector, Chowdhury said the association has been playing an important role in making a bridge between the traders and the government, to solve the different problems traders face.
In an era of open market economies, the government should ensure necessary help for the investors; when an investor wants to invest here, he has to go to different offices in Dhaka for permission, he said. The government should set up a one stop service to provide all sorts of services that are required to launch and run a business, Chowdhury added.
“CCCI helps Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association to operate properly. Due to a long-term role played by CCCI, a full-fledged bond commissionerate has recently been introduced in Chittagong, which is very helpful for the readymade garments sector as well as others,” Chowdhury said.
On the working environment in different industries, he said the atmosphere prevailing in most
industrial units in the port city is pleasant.
Most of the factory owners have been following the salary structure for the workers and providing the necessary facilities.
On unionism, Chowdhury said he is not against it but its activities should be fair. Trade unions help factory owners because they can directly be in contact with the leaders to solve the problems.
Chowdhury said he is thinking about expanding his business into shipping.
He has already received a licence to buy an oil tanker and he hopes to start the business early next year.
Chowdhury suggested the government ensure structural development of this port city to make Chittagong a business-friendly city and a regional economic hub.
He said although the government is thinking about giving transit to different countries, the roads and other structural facilities are not up to the mark.
“If the government wants to see this as a regional hub, it should focus on developing infrastructures.”
Chowdhury urged the government to address the environment and climate issues at micro-levels to combat pollution.
The government should spread the concept at grassroots levels, and everybody should abide by the rules.
A separate industrial zone could be set up for the environmentfriendly industries in the port city, the CCCI leader said.