The prospect of direct container shipping from Chittagong Port to European destinations is widening as at least four more countries have expressed interest in directly transporting goods by sea from Chattogram to Europe.

Bangladesh’s garment industry might be brimming with export orders from international buyers thanks to the ongoing turnaround of the global apparel supply chain, but it is the larger units that are running in full swing while smaller ones have been pushed into corners.

Four foreign and local companies will invest $50 million collectively at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar (BSMSN) in Chattogram’s Mirsarai area.

The European Union (EU) will continue providing Bangladesh with its support and assistance to help the south Asian country achieve sustainable graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category.

Businesses dependent on the import of raw materials are facing increasing shipping costs, which are fuelling their cost of production, and the burden is being passed onto consumers, resulting in a hike in prices.

Harvested rainwater currently meets 15 per cent to 60 per cent of the demand for non-drinkable water at textile and garment factories, helping the industry further its green movement by reducing dependence on groundwater, according to a study released yesterday.

Doreen Power Generations and Systems Limited yesterday announced that its subsidiary, Chandpur Power Generation, has completed a 100-hour reliability run test as per the power purchase agreement signed with the Bangladesh Power Development Board.

Saif Powertec, a logistics and container supply chain management provider, is building a multipurpose jetty at the Mongla port with an estimated investment of around Tk 1,600 crore to handle both container and cargo ships, said officials yesterday.

Mongla port, the country’s second biggest seaport, has made a strong comeback as it sees an increased arrival of ships, making it a major gateway for Bangladesh’s overseas trade once again.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has updated its rules on temporary importation of machinery, parts and equipment such that public and private agencies can implement projects that require using foreign items.

The spiralling trend of raw jute prices has come to a halt thanks to monitoring by the authorities to curb stockpiling by traders in the last two weeks, said traders and exporters.

The single-digit interest rate on bank loans has helped industries in Bangladesh tremendously as the cost of finances has gone down sharply, allowing them to navigate challenges during the coronavirus pandemic smoothly, said a top entrepreneur.

Fast disbursement of the government’s stimulus packages among cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises (CMSMEs) is facing bottlenecks, starting with complexities over the definition of these entities, said speakers yesterday.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has called upon the Bangladeshi expatriates to invest in Bangladesh to build a prosperous nation.

Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) is establishing a world-class dry fish processing industry in Cox’s Bazar, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim yesterday.

The European Union (EU) has allocated a fund of $21.5 million to help accelerate climate-smart and inclusive infrastructure investments in Bangladesh and five other South Asian countries.

Firms in Bangladesh have recovered about 60 per cent of their business compared to the pre-pandemic levels, found a survey.

Every industry, instead of just the garment sector, should be allowed to import fire safety equipment at reduced rates to safeguard workers’ rights and broaden Bangladesh’s image abroad, said entrepreneurs at a meeting yesterday.

Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) has urged all the ministries and their affiliated agencies to allocate 10 per cent of their annual budget for buying software and IT-enabled services (ITES).

Listed power generation companies of Bangladesh have started to feel the negative impact of the expiry of power purchase agreements with the government.