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Tofail asked for highest productivity |
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April 27, 2000
Dhaka, Apr 26 (UNB) – Industries Minister Tofail Ahmed has asked the chief executives of 11 organizations under his ministry to run their units with highest productivity so that their products and services could earn competitive edge with local and foreign markets. “At this age of free market economy, production units have to survive through vertical and horizontal competitions with other public and private sector enterprises in and outside the country,” Tofail said. Addressing the coordination meeting of CEOs and directors of the corporations under his ministry today, the minister said, “Maintaining high productivity and quality is the only way to win the race.” The corporations include BCIC, BSCIC, Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation, Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation, Bangladesh Institute of Management, BSTI, National Productivity Organization, Patent, Design and Trade mark department, Trade Marks Registry, Boiler Inspection and Bangladesh Industrial Technical Assistance Centre (BITAC). The minister directed the BCIC authorities to make arrangements, including BMRE, to make four pulp and paper mills under BCIC profitable and said the idea of providing subsidy to all products is not feasible under the purview of WTO although developed countries are also providing subsidies and incentives to local industries and agriculture. “As the member of LDCs, we have to face many arguments of developed and developing economies about our production and services. At the same time, on many occasions poor countries are to abide by the suggestions of the donors,” he said adding that Bangladesh as leader of LDCs has taken a middle-line in the ongoing discussion between EU and its allies versus agriculture exporting countries led by CAIRNS group. Tofail said LDCs are concerned about their food security and our demand is to provide us incentives to achieve self-sufficiency in food. Regretting the absence of adequate scope to give protection to our local industries, the Industries Minister said industrial products should survive in the market through open competition. “We are providing fiscal incentives to fostering industrialization.” He asked the BSEC authorities to make joint ventures so that Chittagong Steel Mills can go into production again. Expressing dissatisfaction over the overall situation in sugar industries, the minister directed the officials to make allout efforts in increasing sugarcane and sugar production in the mills and advised them to go for BMRE, if needed. Tofail also instructed the BSTI authorities to be cautions in issuing certificates to commodities. He stressed the need for more inter-organisational cooperation to increase sharing of mutual products and services for mutual benefits. He thanked the chief executives for the progress they have made so far in reducing losses. However, BSEC will go break-even position at the end of the current fiscal, the meeting was informed. Additional Secretary KM Ehsanul Haq and other high officials of the ministry were present.
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