Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - The BBN has prepared the morning business round up compiling reports, published by different newspapers and news portals in Bangladesh.
Central packing house to boost vegetable exports
The government is set to build a central packing house to ensure the fruits and vegetables that are shipped abroad are safe and of good-quality. The move comes in the wake of repeated detections of pests and diseases in export consignments to European nations and the rise in the use of fake phytosanitary certificates that confirm the shipment has met the requirements of importers. Between 2011 and 2014, the European Union detected harmful organisms in 270 consignments from Bangladesh. For instance, in February last year, the EU suspended imports of betel leaves for bacterial contamination. The ban will expire in June.
Big Swedish cos explore investment opportunities in Bangladesh
A delegation of 11 large Swedish companies is now in Bangladesh to explore investment potentials in the country. The representatives of the companies — ABB, Flir, Ericsson, Swedish Export Credit Guarantee Board, Hifab, Indpro, Scania, Swedish Export Credit Corporation, SEB and Valvo — arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday on a three-day visit. Swedish ambassador to Dhaka Johan Frisell introduced the companies at a press briefing at Pan Pacific Sonargoan Hotel in the city on Wednesday.
Muhith ready to discuss single VAT rate with businesses
Finance Minister AMA Muhith said Wednesday there remains a scope to discuss the government's decision on the single rate of VAT with the businesses. He said the government would hold talks with the businesses on their tax proposals for the next budget. "We have decided to keep a single rate of VAT, but tax proposals of businesses could be discussed prior to the budget," the finance minister said.
Bangladesh’s private sector credit growth fall slightly in Jan
Private sector credit growth fell slightly in January over the previous month mainly due to the ongoing political turmoil, bankers said. The private sector credit growth came down to 13.33 per cent in January 2015 on a year-on-year basis from 12.50 per cent in December last, according to the central bank statistics. It was 12.67 per cent in November 2014. “The sector’s credit growth may fall further in the coming months if the current political turmoil continues,” a senior official of a leading private commercial bank (PCB) told BBN in Dhaka.
Global campaign for 'golden rice'
A global campaign that supports the genetically modified "golden rice" and promotes the cause for fighting child mortality entered Bangladesh yesterday as part of its three-nation Asia tour. The campaign -- Allow Golden Rice Now -- is being spearheaded by a man who happens to be a convert from the world's biggest anti-GMO (genetically modified organism) lobby -- Greenpeace. “If golden rice were a cure for cancer, malaria, or Ebola, it would have been approved 10 years ago. In that time, 20 million people, mostly children, have died. This is a crime against humanity,” said Patrick Moore, the campaign head and a Canadian ecologist, at a press briefing in Dhaka yesterday.
Euro tumbles close to 12-year low against dollar
There was no letup in the relentless pressure on the euro, with the currency tumbling to a near 12-year low against the dollar early Wednesday. The plunge in the currency has picked up pace this week as the European Central Bank fires up its bond-purchase program. ECB buying has driven long-term bond yields in the eurozone closer to zero as the central bank buys government debt with freshly printed euros, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Tender troubles continue as e-GP remains distant dream
Many public offices are yet to adopt e-GP or electronic government procurement under the Public Procurement Act 2006, undermining the move for making the tendering process transparent and trouble-free. Officials concerned consider the latest gunfight at Bidyut Bhaban as a consequence of skipping the government-framed rules on e-tendering. To prevent tender-related violence and ensure transparency, the government in 2008 introduced e-GP system under the operation of Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) of the IME Division under the ministry of planning.
DSEX dips below 4,600-mark again
Bangladesh’s stocks returned to the red on Wednesday after two session’s marginal gain with key index of the major bourse dipping below 4,600-mark again as investors went for selling spree amid no improvement in the political front. The market opened with a negative note which sustained throughout the session amid modest see-saw trend. At the end of the session, DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) dipped below the 4,600-mark after six and a half months and ended at 4,585.72 points, shedding 63.57 points or 1.36 percent.
BBN/SSR/AD-12Mar15-9:24 am (BST)