In the context of the current global scenario, there are no alternatives to Public Private Partnership to deal with the crisis that Bangladesh is facing right now., said Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister Salman F Rahman on Saturday.
He was addressing a seminar titled “Role of PPP in achieving Vision 2041” held at FBCCI on Saturday morning. “To deal with the reserve crisis and budget limitations, PPP can finance the country’s development project and drive the country towards the vision-2041” the adviser said.
Speaking as the chief guest Adviser Salman F Rahman said, a review should be conducted if there is possibility to make the procedure of PPP faster within the existing law, otherwise, amendment should take place.
He described PPP as the future of our upcoming days. Mentioning some earlier incidents and upcoming projects and approaches regarding PPP, he emphasized for creating a positive and business friendly environment for desired success from PPP. He gave importance to pertinent financing and technological enhancement for fastening PPP. While speaking as special guest, State Minister of planning Dr. Shamsul Alam said, implementation of SDG will not be possible without PPP development as almost 6% financing has to be made through PPP in achieving SDG. Besides, vast investment is not possible for the government alone, as there are many other visions being implemented at the same time.
The country has a strong private sector now. They also have to be included through PPP in development activities. Government should change its mindset and consider private counterpart as the partner, PPP Authority CEO Muhammad Ibrahim urged while delivering his speech as a special guest.
FBCCI president Md. Jashim Uddin said that major changes should be made in the infrastructural sector to achieve the development goals in 2031 and 2041. To speed up the production, doubling the speed in Dhaka-Chattogram highway and increasing the testing facilities in Chattogram port are necessary.
Public Private Partnership can play an active role in these cases. Furthermore, the President suggested using the PPP model to industrialize the thousand acres of unused land in the government's industry area and to modernize the government factories.
President of Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry Naser Ezaz Bijoy presented the Keynote and said, huge development should be made in infrastructural and logistic development in achieving vision 2041. Panel Adviser of FBCCI and BUET Professor Dr. Shamsul Alam opined that there are some government policies that discourage foreign companies from participating in PPP. Chairman of Policy Exchange of Bangladesh Dr. M Masroor Riaz called for formulating a master plan of PPP in the light of the national budget. Public Private Partnership Adviser Mohammad Hasan Haider FCCA said that along national level, PPP should be activated in municipality areas.