Innovation and dialogue key to boosting investment climate, says science secretary

Sustained dialogue between policymakers and businesses is essential to identify effective solutions and implement reforms based on regional best practices, Md Anwar Hossain, Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, said on Sunday.

Speaking as a special guest at a roundtable titled "Business Climate: Reforms, Opportunities, and Challenges Ahead", Hossain emphasised the need for innovation-driven strategies to achieve high-value production.

"Industry and academia must work closely to foster the kind of innovation that drives competitiveness," he said.

The roundtable, organised by The Financial Express at Lakeshore Heights in Dhaka, brought together policymakers, private sector leaders, economists, and think tank representatives for a high-level discussion on Bangladesh's investment climate.

Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy on International Affairs to the Chief Adviser, attended as chief guest, while Mohammad Hasan Arif, Vice Chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), was present as special guest.

Hasnat Alam, economist at the Policy Exchange of Bangladesh, presented the keynote paper on behalf of Dr Masrur Reaz, outlining the structural reforms needed to boost foreign and domestic investment.

The session was chaired by Financial Express Editor and CEO Shamsul Huq Zahid, with Shiabur Rahman Shihab, Head of Online and Digital Content at FE, moderating the discussion.

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