Adviser to the prime minister on economic affairs Dr Mashiur Rahman recommended for creating more employment in the manufacturing sector to help absorb people who would be jobless following mechanisation of agriculture. The advisor admitted that the farm sector's contribution to GDP has decreased with low employment, but said output value in agriculture and employment is high due to mechanisation of agriculture and introduction of new technology.
Dr. Mashiur made the remarks while delivering the first Annual 'Moazzem Hossain Memorial Lecture' at the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) auditorium in the city on Thursday. The ERF will be organising the lecture every year in memory of late Moazzem Hossain, its first president and founding editor of the Financial Express.
Mr Rahman laid emphasis on skill-based education with a view to avoiding more addition to jobless educated youths. He said GDP is assessed through different parameters by many countries and the difference in growth rate by the government and development partners is evident because of the gap between domestic data and global statistics.
Referring to the GDP growth of 8.12 per cent and 8.15 per cent, the PM aide said this has happened owing to assessment through foreign currency. He, however, said the GDP growth shows upward trend even if some may oppose the curve.