Seminar Recommendation
Seminar of New Investment Horizon: Blue economy
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) organized a seminar on “New Investment Horizon: Blue Economy” on 20th August 2016 at DCCI Auditorium. Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, BB, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Power, Energy & Mineral Resources Affairs graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Rear Admiral (Retd.) Md. Khurshed Alam, ndc, psc, Secretary, Maritime Affairs Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and H.E. Ms. Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh were remain present as the special guests.
Mr. Hossain Khaledpresident of DCCI delivered the welcome address and Professor. Md Kawser Ahmed, Chairman, Department of Oceanography, University of Dhaka presented the keynote paper. Former Presidents of DCCI R Maksud Khan, Aftab-ul Islam, Director and former president M Shahjahan Khan, Director Salim Akhter Khan, MS Siddiqui, Shahjada A Hamid, and former Director Khairul Majid Mahmud, among others, participated in the open discussion session moderated by the President of DCCI.
The Recommendations emerged from the seminar are as follows:
Immediate issues:
1. Action plan needs to be undertaken strengthening inter-ministerial cooperation engaging private sector in order to popularize cruise tourism.
2. Design viable arrangement encouraging local private investment as well as PPP for harnessing marine resources including exploration of sea-based energy and oil.
3. Initiative needs to be undertaken to popularize the uses of river ports for carrying goods from Chittagong port to Dhaka and its surrounding areas.
4. Policy measures to restrict and dismantle hazardous ships.
5. Develop close cooperation between Bangladesh and the United States to ensure the flourishing of Blue economy.
6. Making investment friendly condition for local financial institutions so that they can lend foreign currency with long tenure and grace period.
Mid-term Recommendation:
7. Bangladesh needs to develop capacity for long-line fishing, seaweed aquaculture, sea farming and sea ranching.
8. Develop human resources and technology for deep sea fishing like tuna fish.
9. Feasibility study needs to be conducted focusing on the viability of the power generation from tidal wave and seafront resources.
10. Special attention needs to be given on the academia so that Universities can develop skilled and marine-savvy human resources.
11. Enhance research collaboration encompassing local and international research organizations, universities finding easy and affordable technology for reaping the commercial benefit of blue economy.
12. Exploration in deep sea shore blocs to overcome the energy crisis.
13. Low cost funding facility to support the growing shipbuilding industry as well as increase the dependency on local shipping instead of foreign shipping line.
14. Development of global partnership for harnessing potentials of blue economy.
Long-term Recommendation:
15. Capacity of the sea ports need to be enhanced as trade dependent on sea transportation will increase in line with the growing trend of international trade.
Published on: 2016-08-20