BANGLADESH NEWS
Work to upgrade Cox's Bazar airport into an international one will start by the year end to woo foreign investment, the Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister said on Thursday.
"We plan to have a fourth international airport at Cox's Bazar. We will be able to start construction at the end of this year," M Faruk Khan said at a meeting of Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in Dhaka.
The Minister said they had taken steps to lure investment into the tourism sector in a bid to achieve 7.3 percent economic growth target in 2012-13 fiscal.
As FICCI President Syed Ershad Ahmed said gas and electricity crisis, lack of governance, corruption and political conflicts was scaring foreign investors off, the Minister claimed measures were on to overcome those crises.
He said despite global downturn, Bangladesh could achieve over 6 percent growth in the last financial year. Khan said because of the government's investment-friendly approach, investors from India, Turkey, Japan, Korea and several European Union countries were asking to make investments in Bangladesh.
"In the last three years we have added over 3000MW electricity. Within the next few years we will be able to add another 8000 MW electricity," he said, adding rail and road communications were developed by his government.
"We also showed zero tolerance towards corruption," he told the investors. "You can easily assume it seeing the budgetary allocation for strengthening the Anti-Corruption Commission."
Although ruling Awami League and opposition BNP are arch-rivals in Bangladesh, Khan did not find any big problem in politics.
"We have a vibrant government and a vibrant opposition. I find no problem in politics. Sometimes I am happy to see they (opposition) question the government's decision," he said.
Without giving further details on the new international airport, the Minister said they also had planned to upgrade international airports in Chittagong and Sylhet to facilitate foreign tourists.
"We have plans to have a second runway and third terminal of the Dhaka international airport. We will also overhaul domestic airports," he said.
The FICCI leaders said with natural beauty and unique hospitality of the people, Bangladesh had untapped potentials in the tourism sector with over 700 tourism spots.
Currently, aviation activities are carried out by three international and five domestic airports.
To woo foreign investment in tourism sector, FICCI suggested establishment of an international standards beach hotel along with county club, cottage, and conversion of the existing Golf Course in Cox's Bazar.
Establishment of an exclusive tourist zone at Sabrung in Teknaf under Cox's Bazar district has also been suggested.
"We plan to have a fourth international airport at Cox's Bazar. We will be able to start construction at the end of this year," M Faruk Khan said at a meeting of Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in Dhaka.
The Minister said they had taken steps to lure investment into the tourism sector in a bid to achieve 7.3 percent economic growth target in 2012-13 fiscal.
As FICCI President Syed Ershad Ahmed said gas and electricity crisis, lack of governance, corruption and political conflicts was scaring foreign investors off, the Minister claimed measures were on to overcome those crises.
He said despite global downturn, Bangladesh could achieve over 6 percent growth in the last financial year. Khan said because of the government's investment-friendly approach, investors from India, Turkey, Japan, Korea and several European Union countries were asking to make investments in Bangladesh.
"In the last three years we have added over 3000MW electricity. Within the next few years we will be able to add another 8000 MW electricity," he said, adding rail and road communications were developed by his government.
"We also showed zero tolerance towards corruption," he told the investors. "You can easily assume it seeing the budgetary allocation for strengthening the Anti-Corruption Commission."
Although ruling Awami League and opposition BNP are arch-rivals in Bangladesh, Khan did not find any big problem in politics.
"We have a vibrant government and a vibrant opposition. I find no problem in politics. Sometimes I am happy to see they (opposition) question the government's decision," he said.
Without giving further details on the new international airport, the Minister said they also had planned to upgrade international airports in Chittagong and Sylhet to facilitate foreign tourists.
"We have plans to have a second runway and third terminal of the Dhaka international airport. We will also overhaul domestic airports," he said.
The FICCI leaders said with natural beauty and unique hospitality of the people, Bangladesh had untapped potentials in the tourism sector with over 700 tourism spots.
Currently, aviation activities are carried out by three international and five domestic airports.
To woo foreign investment in tourism sector, FICCI suggested establishment of an international standards beach hotel along with county club, cottage, and conversion of the existing Golf Course in Cox's Bazar.
Establishment of an exclusive tourist zone at Sabrung in Teknaf under Cox's Bazar district has also been suggested.
No comments:
Post a Comment