Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– The BBN has prepared the morning business round up compiling reports, published by different newspapers and news portals in Bangladesh.
Foreign loan release, commitment increase in July-January
Disbursement and commitment of foreign loans and grants increased in July-January period of the current financial year 2014-15 following some large amount loan commitment by the World Bank in January. In the first seven months of the FY15 the government received $1.74 billion from the international lenders and donors, of which $1,405 million was loan and $340 million in grants, showed the latest data of the Economic Relations Division. The disbursement amount was $1.40 billion in the same period of the previous year when $1,259 million was in loan and $309 million in grants.
‘Human development makes economic growth sustainable’
Economic development and progress in human development must complement each other to help reach the fruit of development to under as well as less privileged segments of the society, said Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen in Dhaka Monday. And to facilitate human development, the state needs to play a critical role in ensuring education and health service to the people, he said while delivering an open lecture titled, “Economic Development and Human Progress”.
Bangladesh a top choice for Japanese investors: survey
Most Japanese firms operating in China choose Bangladesh as the second best investment destination after India due to lower production costs here, according to a survey by Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro). Due to sluggish operations and struggle for expansion of business in China, firms are expanding their operations mainly in Bangladesh, India, Vietnam and Thailand. Some 71.7 percent Japanese-affiliated firms in China want to expand their operations in Bangladesh, with 78.2 percent favouring India, 66 percent Vietnam and 60.9 percent Thailand, according to the official trade and investment promotion agency of Japan.
Bangladesh Bank issues agriculture loan rescheduling policy
The central bank of Bangladesh on Monday issued a policy on short-term agriculture loans rescheduling aiming to boost productions through facilitating farmers, officials said. Under the fresh policy, the banks are allowed to reschedule such agriculture loans under ‘banker-client’ relationship through relaxation of down payment. In some cases, such loans can be rescheduled even without any down payment. The farmers will be eligible for getting fresh agriculture loans without depositing any compromised amount after rescheduling such loans.
Pharma sales go up
Pharmaceutical sales in the domestic market rose 11.37 percent year-on-year to Tk 11,307.25 crore last year on the back of increased medical coverage of the population and easy access to health care services. The sector raked in Tk 10,168.55 crore in sales turnover in 2013, up 8.12 percent from a year ago, according to IMS Health, a leading global information and technology service provider to healthcare and life sciences industries.
Bangladesh’s stocks end slightly up
Bangladesh’s stocks edged slightly higher on Monday as investors went for buying spree on lucrative stocks despite prevailing political turmoil across the country. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), went up by 6.46 points or 0.13 percent to close at 4,808.64 points amid choppy trading throughout the session. The two other indices also ended in the green.
Net investment in NSCs tops Tk 15,700cr in 7 months
The net investment in national savings certificates and bonds surpassed Tk 15,700 crore in seven months (July-January) of this financial year 2014-15 as clients continued to invest heavily in the NSCs due to low bank deposit rates and sluggish business climate. According to the Directorate of National Savings data released on Monday, the net investment in the savings instruments increased by 215.82 per cent to Tk 15,738.94 crore in the seven months of the FY15 compared with that of Tk 4,983.44 crore in the same period a financial year ago.
BBN/SSR/AD-24Feb15-9:57 am (BST)
