Good governance key to business-friendly environment: DCCI

Good governance, strong political will, and timely policies with effective implementation are essential to ensure a business- and investment-conducive environment, the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) said today.

The chamber noted that the economy faced several challenges in 2025 due to geopolitical tensions, increases in tariff rates, the absence of a supportive revenue management system, contractionary monetary policy, stagnant investment, prolonged inflation, instability in domestic politics, a declining law-and-order situation, and the ongoing energy crunch.

"Although some positive trends have recently been observed following measures taken by the interim government, there is no alternative to good governance, political will, and timely policies with effective implementation to ensure a business-conducive environment," DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed said at the DCCI's 64th annual general meeting (AGM) held at its office in Dhaka.

During the meeting, DCCI members emphasised the need for political consensus to advance the private sector and underscored reforms in trade and investment policies, the removal of existing complications in revenue management, along with the introduction of automation.

They also highlighted the need for the development of the logistics sector, easier access to low-interest loans with simplified procedures for entrepreneurs, uninterrupted energy supply to industries, and stabilisation of the overall law-and-order situation.

For the first time, DCCI has initiated the Economic Position Index (EPI) to support data-driven decision-making for policymakers, researchers, and industrial entrepreneurs.

The index will measure quarterly changes in economic activities in the manufacturing and services sectors, he said.