BIDA to launch one-stop service in January

Experts at a meeting on Tuesday said investors can start their business easily since Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) is set to introduce the full-fledged ‘One-Stop Service Centre’ in January.

They observed that the one stop service will improve the Bangladesh’s rank in the World Bank’s Global Doing Business Report in 2019.

The National Steering Committee Meeting for the Ease of Doing Business was held at the Hotel Inter-Continental in the capital.

Chaired by Finance Minister AMA Muhith, the meeting was addressed, among others, by Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs) of the Prime Minister’s Office Md Abul Kalam Azad and BIDA Executive Chairman Kazi M Aminul Islam.

Speaking at the meeting, Muhith said the process of starting a business in Bangladesh is now easier than before as the government has taken various measures for accelerating the country’s economy, reports BSS.

“Now, you can easily get permissions, including electricity and telephone, for starting a business here. Security for running business is also better than before,” he said.

Without the ease of doing business, Tofail said, Bangladesh has achieved a remarkable progress in all socioeconomic indicators, including life expectancy, infant mortality rate, export and GDP growth, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Bangladesh will have to make the process of investment easy for achieving all development goals, including the Vision-2021, the Vision-2041 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he added.

He urged the authorities concerned to include a representative from business community in the National Steering Committee for making the committee more effective.

Shahjahan Khan said entrepreneurs will come forward to invest if the process of starting business gets easy.

Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the government has taken different initiatives for strengthening the law enforcement agencies to ensure foolproof security. “Sustainable security is a must for achieving sustainable development.”

Nasrul Hamid said the government should introduce digital services in all sectors for improving the rank of doing business to attract more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

“If we want to make the process of investment fast, we will have to adopt technology in all sectors,” he added.

Abul Kalam Azad said starting a business in Bangladesh will now become easier as the government will introduce One-Stop Service Centre in January.

The One Stop Service Act has been enacted while the rule of One-Stop Service has been prepared and the software has also been developed in this regard, he added.

Aminul Islam said the flow of the FDI to Bangladesh will reach a new height after launching of the service centre as the new web-based system allows a company to start its activities within a short time.

Terming the “One-Stop Service’ a web-based and virtual one, he said previously investors had to apply in person and go door-to-door to all service providers to get permissions for utility connections and other facilities.