Experts at a programme on Sunday said that opening a business in the country was very challenging due to a long list of document compliance issues.
To ensure document compliances by businesses, the government should improve online services, they said.
They said that changing mindsets of both regulators and businesses mandatory for improving the doing business environment in the country.
They made the comments at a programme titled ‘Launching Web Portal on Setting up Factories: Licensing, Certificate and Registration’ arranged by the Centre for Policy Dialogue in partnership with GIZ Bangladesh at a hotel in the capital Dhaka.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry director Syed Moazzem Hossain, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association president Faruque Hassan, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association executive president Mohammad Hatem, Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh president Syed Nasim Manzur and Bangladesh Textile Mills Association vice-president Abdullah Al Mamun present as panellists in the programme.
Business Initiative Leading Development chief executive officer Ferdaus Ara Begum was present as distinguished discussant at the programme.
She said, ‘National integration and coordinating approaches of stakeholders must be needed for the future business development environment.’
‘Businesses have to obtain around 15 to 32 specific licences and documents, including trade licence, tax identification number, value-added identification number, IRC, ERC, trademark, RGS registration for doing business in the country,’ she said.
‘Registration and renewal process of such documents is very expensive and time consuming due to the absence of transparency among both the regulator and the businesses,’ she said.
‘A number of un-documentation issues which also require in our country for doing business are a concern for us,’ she said.
To make the process easier, she suggested adopting automation practices.
Syed Nasim Manzur said, ‘Regulator must be clearer about jurisdiction of responsibility as many higher authorities often rejected the government special offers that provide for the business development.’
Comparing the Vietnam business environment he said, ‘We should follow Vietnam’s strategy on adoption of automation system for developing business environment in the country.’
He also urged the regulatory authorities to trust in the businesspeople.
Syed Moazzem Hossain said, ‘Businesses bear a huge amount of losses at the first phrase on updating document of business. As a result, foreigners losses interest in investing in the country.’
‘The regulatory authorities of different public entities are often do not do their duty right and are slack in their inspection,’ he said.
GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) project manager Michael Klode delivered the introductory remarks at the session.
CPD research director Khondaker Golam Moazzem chaired the event.
Bangladesh and the CPD have developed a web site which presents legal, institutional and operational issues such as building permits, fire-safety licences, environmental clearances and renewal of licences, auditing and occupational health and safety (OSH) for selected sectors.
The CPD recommenced introduction of a one-stop service, capacity development of government agencies to implement responsibilities, entrepreneurs should be more aware of their roles and proper inspections need to be ensured for easing the process of setting up factories or business.
