Improve investment environment
A Maher, Dhaka
Japan's uneasiness about future investment in Bangladesh (DS June 20) needs an urgent review. The locals are familiar with most of the complaints. Re-tendering has become a nasty culture. Then there is absence of continuity when a regime changes. Shut off the corrupt umbrella effect.Japan is willing to come, as its investment policy in China may undergo a change, and Bangladesh appears (on paper) to be an attractive alternative. The labour wages in Bangladesh are comparable to that in China. Even the Chinese are interested in some re-locations, as the giant is short of energy resources (as is India that is why Tata is investing big in Bangladesh). How to woo US and Western investment and re-locations? The US business firms are making a beeline for India. How are we competing? Our vast coal resources need an urgent and positive code; and the marketing of natural gas has to be on more attractive terms (there are too many maidenly do's and don'ts). Election or no election, the market forces have to be recognised, and the government policies have to be spelt out in more cosmetic demos.
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