Economic Reporter :
Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Nurul Islam on Tuesday urged non-resident Bangladeshi businessmen to invest in the country.
“I urge you to invest here. I assure you that we will provide all supports to address the problems you face,” he told a ceremony in the city.
The programme was organised to distribute cards for the CIPs (Commercially Important Persons) for 2014 at Probashi Kallyan Bhaban in the capital. Islam distributed CIP cards among 10 Bangladeshi expatriates for their outstanding contribution to the country’s economy in 2014.
The minister appreciated Bangladeshi workers who work hard abroad, leaving their families behind, for a better future.
He praised them as they send their hard-earned money back home and contribute hugely to the country’s economy.
He said Bangladesh expatriates sent US$ 15,317 billion in remittances in 2015, which is about 13 percent of the country’s total GDP.
The minister promised to take steps for easing money transfer channels.
“We will be able to resolve this if we can set up branches of Expatiates’ Welfare Bank abroad,” he said.
The Bangladeshi expatriates, who received CIP cards, are Mohammad Mahtabur Rahman, Mohammad Waliur Rahman and Abul Kalam from the United Arab Emirates (UAE); Mohammad Kamal Pasha, Mohammed Shahjahan Miah and Sajeda Noor Begum from Oman; Mohammad Idris, Jahangir Mohammad Hossain and Ohid Mollah from Italy; and Mohammad Shafi Uddin from Bahrain.
Islam said Bangladeshi expatriates can submit their application online from next year to be CIPs.
Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Khandaker Iftekhar Haidar was present on the occasion.
