Business Analysis
Three factors holding back economy
The interest rate cap on loans, the frequent changes to the exchange rate regime and a relaxed attitude to enforcing austerity measures are the major challenges facing Bangladesh in restoring stability in the economy.
The dominance of business elites in the political economy
The term “neopatrimonialism” is defined by political scientist Christopher Clapham as a system in which “relationships of a broadly patrimonial type pervade a political and administrative system, which is formally constructed on rational-legal lines”.
A case for adoption of cloud services and related legal framework
Over the last few years, technology has advanced tremendously and cloud computing is regarded as one of the most significant innovations of the IT industry that provides potential opportunities for public and private business entities.
Nurturing the changemakers of tomorrow
ntrepreneurs are harbingers of hope. To promote and nourish entrepreneurship, many countries have given substantial attention to entrepreneurship education and strengthening related institutions.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY / Women-led businesses on digital platforms
Gender balance is not only a women's issue, it is a business issue. A recent study by the McKinsey Global Institute estimates that women in Asia Pacific, if given equal opportunities at work, would create additional GDP equivalent to an economy the combined size of Germany and Austria each year.
Getting more women into tech
Bangladesh now has a thriving technology startup ecosystem. Companies are reaching scale, attracting significant venture funding and hiring in large numbers.
Cost of sustainability in the apparel industry
The apparel retail landscape has changed rapidly in recent years. While there are still some laggards in the industry, most brands want to do the right thing when it comes to sustainability, with smart brands now recognising that operating in a sustainable manner goes hand in hand with business success.
Bangladesh Apparel Industry / Thinking out of the box to gain some bargaining power
We constantly hear the complaint from our apparel exporters that buyers do not pay them a fair price for their products. Whether or not this is a fair assessment is perhaps irrelevant.
Whither Start-Up India?
It is often alleged that it is easier to start a business in India than to shut it down. At the Start-Up India launch, Modi signalled his government's willingness to address this concern.
What will kill RMG: TPP or Fear?
What will kill RMG in Bangladesh? Trans-Pacific Partnership or security fears? It may certainly be the second one and not the first. To begin with, the full text of the TPP is not yet available.
CHINA: A worthy trade partner
The recent visit of Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng to Dhaka no doubt reinvigorated the existing bilateral relations, laying
“It smells of double standards“
I am not in support of the fact that Bangladesh was left out of the GSP programme by the US. It smells of double standards.
“The US should give us the GSP to inspire us to do better”
It is very unfortunate. The world knows that conditions are getting better in Bangladesh. We are working closely with the government, the ILO, the EU and others.
US' 'No' to GSP: One-sided love affair!
Though US-Bangla interactions have evolved on a love-hate trajectory, an exception is made in relation to the GSP facility for Bangladesh. Dhaka's obsession with it has not been reciprocated by Washington.
America in the Way
The third Interna-tional Conference on Financing for Development recently convened in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa.
ELUSIVE REGAINING OF GSP BENEFITS IN THE USA
GSP is always riddled with the subjectivity of the benefit granting countries. Indeed, trade analysts would recognise that this element of subjectivity is one of the fundamental problems with the GSP regimes.
Choice: Indispensably branded or ethically slaughtered?
Without branding, Bangladesh will only be just one more country bragging with an unsustainable RMG basket.
