BD’s per capita income to reach $16,000 by 2041: Azad

Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs) of the Prime Minister's Office Abul Kalam Azad on Thursday said Bangladesh's per capita income will reach US$16,000 by 2041 when the country will be a developed one.

He came up with the remarks while addressing a roundtable on "Potential Roles and Challenges of Private Sector to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals" organised by Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).

Azad said the government has created a land bank of 100,000 acres for establishing economic zones across the country, especially in the south belt where 35,000 acres of land have been acquired and handed over to Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza).

He said the government has done a mapping with the goals and targets of SDGs and assigned all the ministries with their respective tasks for their implementation, according to a press release.

"We need resources mobilisation for financing issues and to enhance skill development," Azad said, reports UNB.

He urged the private sector to invest in the economic zones, saying the government will facilitate their investment providing electricity and gas supply.

DCCI President Abul Kasem Khan in his welcome address said the private sector is facing some challenges. "We need policy continuation, consistency and cohesiveness for more engagement of private sector in attaining SDGs."

President of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Barrister Nihad Kabir and President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Mahbubul Alam were also present at the programme.