Dhaka:Bangladesh must focus on marine resource management as a key contributor to its GDP to achieve the goal of a $1 trillion economy by 2034, stated State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki during a seminar.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Saki emphasized the importance of giving equal attention to rail and inland waterways in addition to road transport. He highlighted the government's identification of priority sectors within the blue economy, including shipbuilding and port management, aimed at enhancing connectivity between ports and industrial production centers.
The seminar, titled 'Planning Perspective on the Emerging Industries in the Blue Economy Sector of Bangladesh,' was organized by the Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB). Saki noted the establishment of a dedicated Blue Economy Cell in the Prime Minister's Office to improve coordination among institutions in this sector.
Saki also stressed the necessity of collaboration between the government, academia, and the private sector to nurture the blue economy and develop the skilled workforce required for its growth. He acknowledged the crucial role universities play in this development and expressed gratitude to IUB for raising awareness on these issues.
Javed Hosein, a member of the IUB Board of Trustees, highlighted inefficiencies in port operations and logistics affecting Bangladesh's trade competitiveness. He noted significant delays in unloading fuel oil tankers and garment export shipments compared to international benchmarks, attributing these delays to corruption.
The event featured a keynote presentation by Rear Admiral (retd) Md Khurshed Alam on the prospects of the blue economy, while IUB Vice Chancellor Prof M Tamim delivered the welcome address. The seminar was moderated by Marium Binte Hassan Farin, an Environmental Science and Management student at IUB.