President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday called on the global businesses to keep in mind while doing business the issues like making the international market pro-people, expansion of technology and protection of the environment for ensuring the sustainable growth of the world economy.
“We would remain there to take the market to the masses so that businesses could bring opportunities for all. If jobs are not created, access to skill, capital and market will remain limited. Discontent and unhappiness will remain out there in the streets despite growth,” he said.
The President said this while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the three-day 9th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) at Excel conference Center in London, according to message received here.
Abdul Hamid said the expansion of technology to the masses could forge new partnership between the government and businesses for assured and quality public-private partnership of public goods, particularly the marginalised and vulnerable segments.
About the environment, the Bangladesh President urged companies from the Islamic world to step in for reducing their carbon footprint, inspired by the true teachings of Islam and set the path for the rest of the world.
“How companies treat the environment, manage value chain and do fair trade are important criteria for conscious consumers while making choice,” Hamid said.
“In spite of numerous challenges and constraints and global recessions, our economy has been doing well,” said the President adding that Bangladesh is currently one of the fastest growing economies in South Asia, and is considered as one of the NEXT 11 globally.
“But, we’re mindful that the growth alone would not empower people or ensure social justice. We’ve therefore been investing in our people. Our objective is to ensure dignity and equality of opportunity – for each person,” Hamid added.
He went on: “Bangladesh government has increased social safety net benefits; reduced poverty, hunger, child and maternal mortality; achieved food security, and introduced universal primary education, for instance. We’ve made significant progress in achieving most of the MDGs.”
Hamid further mentioned: “We’ve also invested in environmental protection. We’ve created fund from own resources for climate change adaptation.”
“We’ve also taken the internet to villages by establishing local internet access points at the grassroots: almost everyone has access to mobile phone which delivers some of the public goods directly. We’re forging public-private partnership for inclusive growth. We’re confident, with right and innovative interventions; we would be able to muster change for better, for everyone,” the President told his audience.
British Prime Minister David Cameron also spoke while patron of WIFE Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak inaugurated the conference.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, President Atifete Jahjaga of Kosovo, Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane of Morocco, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan, Prime Minister Craig Cannonier of Bermuda, Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai, Vice President Boeidiono of Indonesia, Bakir Izetgovic, Member of the Presidency, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Rowsch Nuri Shaways of Iraq and Deputy Prime Minister Asset Isseceshev of Kazakhstan also gave special address.
Apart from the heads of state and government, five central bank governors and more than 1,500 CEOs, academics, regional experts, health, professionals, business leaders, policy makers and innovators from 120 countries met first time outside the Islamic world under the banner of WIFE this occasion with the aim to boost trade partnerships between Islamic and European markets.
Source: UNB Connect
