'Per capita income likely to reach $6,000 by 2030'

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has voiced his firm optimism that the per capita income of the country would reach $5,000 to $6,000 by 2030.

He also hoped that Bangladesh would be able to graduate fully into a developing country by 2024, reports BSS.

The commerce minister was addressing the inaugural ceremony of a training programme for journalists titled “Trade and WTO: A Special Course for Members of the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF)” held at the ERF Conference Room at Paltan Tower in the city on Sunday.

Tipu Munshi said the goal of the current government is to further move forward the country through expansion of trade and commerce and creating employments.

“Our goal is now to further moving ahead the country and to expand trade and commerce. The world is now open to all and we’ll have to grab the opportunities and potentials that the world is offering. We’ll also have to create more employments,” he said.

Noting that the economy of Bangladesh has now reached a new phase thanks to the farsighted efforts of the Awami League government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Tipu said during the latest 5th WTO’s Trade Policy Review (TPR) meeting in Geneva, the WTO and the global community lauded the performances of Bangladesh in various indexes.

Referring to his recent visit to Czech Republic, the minister said a bilateral agreement was signed with the Czech Republic while the Czech businesses have expressed their keen interest to investment in Bangladesh’s various sectors like energy and machineries.

The commerce minister informed that he would leave for Russia on May 30 where one or more bilateral agreements are likely to be signed with the Russian government as Bangladesh is eying to grab the huge market here.

He assured the ERF of his ministry’s continued support and cooperation in the coming days to enhance the skills of the journalists through organizing various training programmes.

Director General of the WTO Cell of the Ministry of Commerce Md Munir Chowdhury spoke on the occasion as special guest while ERF President Saiful Islam Dilal was in the chair. ERF General Secretary SM Rashidul Islam moderated the function. Director of the WTO Cell Hafizur Rahman was present, among others.

Some 60 journalists from different media houses are taking part in the three-day training programme.