Corporate
Grameenphone Advocates Corporate Power Purchase Agreements for Climate Goals
In a strategic move to bridge policy gaps and champion Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) policies, Grameenphone orchestrated a pivotal panel discussion titled “Greening the Grid” at its corporate headquarters in Dhaka. The discourse aimed at propelling policy reforms vital for supporting Grameenphone’s ambitious target of slashing CO2 emissions by 50% before 2030, benchmarked against the year 2019.
During the discussion, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Hans Martin Hoegh Henrichsen reaffirmed Grameenphone’s dedication to carbon emission reduction. He underscored the pivotal role of CPPAs in realizing this commitment, addressing the challenges faced by private sector entities while emphasizing the advantageous outcomes of supportive policies. Henrichsen highlighted how embracing Corporate Power Purchase Agreements not only aligns with sustainability goals but also attracts Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and aids in meeting governmental renewable energy targets, in addition to bolstering Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) objectives aligned with the Paris Agreement.
Erik Solheim, Former Minister of Environment and International Development, Norway, brought international insights to the discussion, drawing from Norway’s successful grid greening experience. He explored best practices applicable to Bangladesh’s transition toward renewable energy sources.
Ambassador Espen Rikter-Svendsen highlighted the significance of international partnerships in fortifying Bangladesh’s green grid efforts, expressing Norway’s readiness to support this transition. ED Elrahal, Chief of Party at Tetra Tech, emphasized the role of development partners like USAID and Tetra Tech in providing capacity building and technical assistance to Bangladesh for CPPA implementation.
Engr. Mohammad Hossain, Director General of Power Cell Bangladesh, delved into the technical aspects of integrating renewable energy into the national grid, shedding light on challenges and opportunities. Nahim Razzaq MP, Convenor of Climate Parliament Bangladesh, concluded the discussion by emphasizing the existing legislative framework and advocating essential policy changes for streamlined CPPA adoption, showcasing the active involvement of parliamentary committees in propelling policy reform in this domain.
DHAKA, Nov 07, 2024 (BSS) – Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) has elected a 16-member Board of Directors for the term 2024-2026 with Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun) as its President.
The election was held on October 27 and November 6, said a press release today.
Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun) has been elected as the President of JBCCI. He is the Managing Director of New Vision Solutions Limited. He has been the Secretary General of JBCCI for three consecutive terms.
Maria Howlader FCA has been elected as the first female Secretary General of JBCCI. She has also been re-elected as a Board Member for two consecutive terms.
Kenji Kimura has been elected as the Treasurer of JBCCI. He is the Chief Representative of MUFG Bank Dhaka Office, which is the largest Bank in Japan and a member of Mitsubishi Group.
Out of a group of 313 members, including 71 Japanese member companies, the voting process saw a notable turnout of 61.98 percent.
Afsana Zarin has consistently demonstrated her strategic vision and dedication, developing and empowering women entrepreneurs through technology, leaving a lasting impact on the industry.
Recently, she was recognized for her efforts at the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Bangladesh Award in the Women in Innovation with Inclusion category. The award ceremony took place at Hotel Le Meridien in Dhaka on Friday, October 25, 2024.
The prestigious event was graced by notable guests, including Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Head of Anti-Corruption Reform Commission and Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh, who attended as the Chief Guest. Md Mukhlesur Rahman Sarker, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women & Children Affairs, attended as the Special Guest, and Rasheda K Chowdhury, Executive Director (CEO) of CAMPE, delivered the keynote speech.
“I am humbled and thrilled to be recognized as a woman of inspiration. Being able to work for women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh is a privilege. Thanks to ShopUp for allowing me to work with thousands of entrepreneurs across Bangladesh. This award inspired me even more towards this north star, and I plan to drive more inclusion through technology in Bangladesh in the coming years,” Afsana said.
Afsana extended her gratitude to the board members of JCI Bangladesh, Imran Kadir, the 2024 National President of JCI Bangladesh, Fahim Ahmed, the event director and the event organizers for selecting her for this honor.
JCI Bangladesh is a nonprofit global organisation that empowers and encourages the youth of the nation to take an active part in helping fellow entrepreneurs and professionals of their own communities to thrive and be successful.
The ceremony, which celebrated the achievements of women leaders in various fields, highlighted Afsana’s contributions to driving women’s economic empowerment through innovative programs and technology.
Her work has set an example for aspiring entrepreneurs, and her commitment to fostering inclusion through technology and creating opportunities for women continues to inspire many in Bangladesh.
Correspondent To witness the deep and diverse historical culture and the latest achievements of high-quality development, the seven-day “International Insights into China” event was held with the theme of “Towards Openness and Integration of the New Era”. The event was held in various cities in China’s autonomous region of Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi Province between October 13 and 19. Media reporters and international students from different countries, including Bangladesh, participated in it.
This event is guided by the Cyberspace Administration of China’s Network Communication Bureau and jointly co-hosted by the Cyberspace Administration of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Cyberspace Administration of Shanxi Province, and China Daily Newspaper.
During the event, the delegation members visited the Inner Mongolia Museum, Yili Modern Smart Health Valley, Mengcao Seed Industry Center, Grassland Cloud Valley, Huawei Cloud Service Data Center, Qisumu Railway International Logistics Park, Huayan Temple, Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes, and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda. They have immersed themselves in the profound and diverse historical and cultural charm of Inner Mongolia and Shanxi, and witnessed the latest achievements of high-quality development. During the activities, the delegation members used their unique “outside eyes” perspective, lenses, and pens to show the world the beautiful picture of cultural inheritance and innovative development in Inner Mongolia and Shanxi and tell the extraordinary story of the local practice of Chinese-style modernization.
The journey began on 13 Oct, and on Oct 14, they explored the Inner Mongolia Museum in Hohhot, where the city’s grassland culture and historical heritage. From Oct 15 to 16, the delegation visited Inner Mongolia’s Ulaanqab City, also known as the “Prairie Technology Valley”, where the Huawei Cloud Data Center, a core area of Inner Mongolia’s big data industry, left a lasting impression on the delegation. The second half of their journey was devoted to Shanxi province. From Oct 16 to 19, they visited iconic tourist sites, such as the Huayan Temple, Nine-Dragon Wall, Hanging Temple, Yungang Grottoes in Datong City, and the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda in Shuozhou City.
Bayasgalan Lkhagvadulam from Mongolia, after climbing the Hanging Temple, said it is marvelling. It’s hard to imagine how people built this temple on the cliff 1,500 years ago. It’s awe-inspiring. If you are interested in ancient architecture, I highly recommend visiting Shanxi to see it yourself.
A group of 20 foreign media journalists, experts, and international students from different countries and regions, including Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia, participated in this event.
