Bangladesh to achieve 7.5pc GDP growth: Mustafa Kamal

Expressing the hope of attaining 7.5 percent GDP growth in the current fiscal year 2016-17, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal Tuesday said Bangladesh is moving forward with all economic indicators in positive trend.

"The government has targeted 7.2 percent growth in the current fiscal. But the upward economic trend shows that the country is likely to achieve 7.5 percent economic growth," Kamal told journalists at a meet the press at the NEC conference room in the city.

Though, the country`s economic growth is in positive trend, recently the inflow of remittances has come down, he said, adding that the government has been working relentlessly to identify the reasons.

He hoped that the remittance inflow will be US$18 billion in 2018.

Mentioning the investment environment as very good, Kamal said the production of electricity and gas will have to be increased to further accelerate the investment in the country.

"Four percent investment needs to attain one percent GDP growth. Nothing can be expected without investment," he added.

He also underscored the need for developing human resources to come out from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, saying that skilled manpower is the driving force of the economy.

"We`ve to attach more importance to developing skilled human resources and the government has already taken various steps in this regard," he added.

Source: BSS