Muhith wonders why investment eludes Bangladesh

Finance Minister AMA Muhith wonders why investment are not flowing into Bangladesh despite a conducive atmosphere and sufficient local liquidity.

Chief Economics Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 30 Oct 2014, 05:47 PM
Updated : 31 Oct 2014, 03:17 AM

“Our investment is very low, much lower than the potential. Whatever little investment we are getting is from foreign sources. Domestic investment are hardly around,” Muhith rued.

“Our entrepreneurs have enough funds with them. There is also stability in the country, yet I don’t understand why they are not investing,” Muhith said while meeting a delegation of Bangladesh Jute Goods Association.

Muhith was referring to political stability after Awami League returned to power the Jan 5 polls, but global financial institutions were apprehending another spell of violence.

File Photo

The finance minister rubbished the apprehension of the private investors who control 80 percent of Bangladesh economy as ‘bogus’.
“The investors are saying they are not going for further investment due to uncertainty. But I don’t see any logic in such arguments. This is simply bogus,” he said.
Country’s economic growth was stuck at 6 percent as investments were not taking place, Muhith said.
“After Jan 5 elections stability has returned to the country. All the economic indicators are good. Bangladesh is progressing. But yet investment is receding,” he pointed out.
He promised steps to attract investments.
When asked about alleged money-laundering to Malaysia, UAE or North America , Muhith said, “Could be that's happening. But we have no evidence of that and unless we have evidence it will not be proper to comment on it."
"It’s a very sensitive matter. But whenever we have found evidence we took immediate step to bring back the money,” the finance minister added.