Economy
JCI Bangladesh to Host “Smart Bangladesh Summit and Expo” for the First Time in the Country
The journey towards building a Smart Bangladesh has already started, and JCI Bangladesh, a leading youth leadership development organization working with youth worldwide, has taken the initiative to strengthen the immense potential of the smart era. “JCI Smart Bangladesh Summit, Expo & CYE Award 2023″ will be held at the International Convention City (ICCB) on June 9-10, 2023, in association with a2i (Aspire to Innovate), ICT Division.
Last Sunday, a press conference was organized with renowned media workers of the country to provide details about the event. Honorable Project Director (Joint Secretary) of A2I (Aspire to Innovate), Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir, was present as the chief guest. JCI Bangladesh National President, Ziaul Haque Bhuiyan, was the keynote speaker. JCI Bangladesh Deputy National President, Imran Qadir, and A2I Program Human Development Media Manager, Purabi Matin, were also present on the occasion. The Smart Bangladesh Summit & Expo was initiated by JCI Bangladesh National Officers Tahsin Azim Shezan, Md. Altamis Nabil, Areez Afsar Khan, Md. Azazul Hasan Khan, Rezwan Ul Haque, Steve Benedict D’Silva, Shan Shahed, Shakhawat Hossain, Fahim Ahmed, and Md. Fazle Munim along with few others.
Honorable Project Director (Joint Secretary) of Aspire to Innovate (A2I), Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir, said at the press conference, ” The a2i has invented and implemented a series of digital programs round the year to simplify different civic services to accelerate attaining the government’s new vision of building a ‘SMART Bangladesh’ by 2041. The successful implementation of the ‘Digital Bangladesh’ encouraged the government to set the new target”. JCI Bangladesh, an organization of creative youths, deserves appreciation for the special programs organized by them for the implementation of Smart Bangladesh. We will continue to extend our sincere support to them to make this effort a success.”
JCI Bangladesh National President, Ziaul Haque Bhuiyan, said, “We are happy to announce that this is the first such big event in the country titled “Smart Bangladesh”. We believe that the participation of the youth of JCI Bangladesh organization will add a different dimension to the Smart Bangladesh goal of the Government of Bangladesh.” He further said, “The event is introducing the first JCI Creative Young Entrepreneur or CYE Award this year. In this session, 1,000 entrepreneurs will be able to share their business ideas, and the winners will be awarded a cash prize of Taka 3.5 lakhs, an opportunity to showcase their business on JCI’s global platform, and opportunities for further funding generation from venture capitalists.”
The primary objective of JCI Smart Bangladesh Summit and Expo is to present it to the general public through expert discussions. There will be a total of 6 special sessions in the 2-day event, in which experts and speakers from the country and outside the country will be present. The invited guests and panelists will highlight every possible aspect of Smart Bangladesh through the exchange of their experiences, knowledge, and opinions. Apart from this, the Smart Expo will display all the amazing technologies for visitors. A Futuristic Expo will be organized based on what Smart Bangladesh will look like in the future.
On the second day of the event, June 10th, JCI will hold the Creative Young Entrepreneur (CYE) Award for young entrepreneurs. Over 1,000 entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to submit their business ideas, from which winners will be selected to receive a grant of Taka 3.5 lakh. Winners will also receive mentoring and assistance in obtaining larger venture capital. Notable investors and venture capital providers from both domestic and international markets will be present during this phase. Winners of this phase will also compete on the international stage with the winners of the next JCI Asia Pacific region.
During the press conference, a website for the JCI Smart Bangladesh Summit, Expo, and CYE Awards 2023 was launched. The website address is www.jcisummit.com, and all necessary information, including registration details, can be found on the site.
In November, the overall point-to-point inflation rate in the country exhibited a marginal decline to 9.49 percent, attributed primarily to decreases in both food and non-food inflation.
The monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) reported a general inflation rate of 9.93 percent in October. Specifically, food inflation decreased to 10.76 percent in November from 12.56 percent in October, while non-food inflation saw a slight dip to 8.16 percent from the 8.30 percent recorded in the previous month.
Breaking down the data, the rural areas experienced a slight decrease in the overall inflation rate to 9.62 percent in November, down from 9.99 percent in October. Similarly, urban areas witnessed a decline in the general inflation rate to 9.16 percent in November, compared to 9.72 percent in October.
The national wage index rate for November increased to 7.72 percent, showing a slight uptick from the 7.69 percent reported in October.
Export earnings for the current fiscal year (FY24) from July to November reached $22,232.28 million, marking a 1.30 percent growth compared to the same period last year, according to the latest data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
In the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year (FY23), export earnings amounted to $21,946.07 million. However, there was a notable decline in single-month export earnings for November, witnessing a 6.05 percent fall, reaching $4,784.81 million, as opposed to $5,092.56 million in November of the previous year.
The Ready-Made Garments (RMG) sector remained the primary contributor to export earnings during July-November, securing $18,835.65 million. Within this category, knitwear exports accounted for $10,989.42 million, followed by woven garments at $7,846.23 million.
Notable performances in other exportable categories during the July-November period include primary commodities at $601.42 million, agriculture products at $420.59 million, manufactured commodities at $21,630.86 million, plastic products at $92.60 million, leather and leather products at $427.02 million, jute and jute goods at $361.91 million, and specialized technologies [remaining text not provided].
The Foreign Minister, in a meeting today with the outgoing Kosovo ambassador Güner Ureya, urged Kosovo to recruit skilled human resources and consider importing high-quality readymade garments and pharmaceuticals from Bangladesh. The ambassador paid a farewell call on the Foreign Minister at the foreign ministry this afternoon.
During the meeting, the Foreign Minister commended the ambassador for actively advancing bilateral relations and emphasized the importance of enhancing people-to-people contact for stronger mutual relations. The outgoing envoy, in turn, expressed appreciation for Bangladesh’s progress and development across various sectors. Additionally, the envoy briefed the Foreign Minister on the shared interest of business communities in both Bangladesh and Kosovo to boost trade and investment between the two countries.
Discussions also encompassed topics such as women empowerment and the necessity of peace for sustainable development. The outgoing envoy lauded the people, culture, and the beauty of Bangladesh.
