Kamal upbeat on economy

Finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said Thursday Bangladesh will be listed among 20 financially influential countries in the next five years.

He said by 2024, Bangladesh will be among the 20 countries that have significant contribution to global GDP (gross domestic product).

The country's contribution to the global GDP will reach 0.9 per cent by then, he said.

The finance minister revealed this at a meeting with acting country director of the World Bank Dandan Chen at his Sher E Bangla Nagar office in the capital, according to a statement.

The minister said this potential for the economy has been detailed in a study conducted by US-based Bloomberg.

He said Bloomberg conducted the research based on data of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released this week.

The minister said Bangladesh aims to achieve the developed country status by 2041.

"But our pace of economic development indicates that we will be able to attain the goal before that period," he said.

Ms Chen in the meeting praised Bangladesh's economic growth, role in sheltering the Rohingya, steps in economic reforms, and measures for women empowerment.

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