The government is considering adopting a crash programme to increase energy supply to existing industries facing gas and electricity shortages.
"If we make a visible decision in this regard and it succeeds, I can assure you that you will see a huge turnaround within a year," Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said on Saturday.
"Our emphasis is to find a way to address this issue quickly," he said while speaking at a discussion titled "Cooperation for Industry Placement, Recruitment and Talent Development Initiatives" at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara.
The event was organised by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Asian University for Women (AUW)'s HSBC-AUW School of Apparel to discuss developing skilled human resources for the ready-made garment (RMG) industry, promoting women's leadership and strengthening collaboration between industry and academia.
Referring to the energy crisis, the minister said that, alongside increasing domestic gas production and LNG imports, the government plans to set up another floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), which is expected to add 550 million to 600 million cubic feet of gas to the national grid.
He said many industrial enterprises have been unable to start production because of the gas shortage.
Citing examples, he said one industrial group has remained idle for four years despite investing US$16 million, while another steel mill with an installed production capacity of 1.8 million tonnes has also been unable to start production due to the lack of gas supply.
Ensuring a reliable energy supply is therefore one of the government's priorities, he said.
The government is implementing reforms in business start-ups, licensing, port management and the energy sector to attract investment, expand industrialisation, create employment and strengthen exports, the minister said.
He added that since assuming office, the current government has been working to make Bangladesh a more attractive destination for investment.
Although it currently takes an average of 355 days to start a business and obtain the required licences, initiatives have been taken to reduce the process to 14 days, he said.
Under the government's plan, entrepreneurs will be able to obtain an import registration certificate within 14 days after company registration and completing other preliminary approvals, enabling them to import machinery and establish industries more quickly.
The commerce minister said a coordinated inspection system would replace separate inspections by different agencies, reducing harassment of entrepreneurs and the time required to set up industries.
He said all services, including trade licences, company registration, share transfers and company dissolution, would be provided online through a one-stop service.
On port management, he said the involvement of international operators would improve cargo handling, reduce vessel waiting times and lower transport costs, helping exporters and importers improve their competitiveness in the global market.
Speaking at the event, AUW Vice-Chancellor Dr Rubana Huq highlighted the importance of increasing women's participation and leadership in the garment industry.
She urged BGMEA member factories to sponsor the university's Master of Science in Apparel and Retail Management programme for women garment workers seeking higher education.
"This partnership will demonstrate the industry's commitment to developing the next generation of leaders in the garment sector," she said.
She added that the initiative would create a pipeline of women executives with expertise in supply chain management, sustainability and industrial engineering.
BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said, "This initiative is part of BGMEA's commitment to enhancing the global competitiveness of Bangladesh's garment industry and developing skilled human resources."
He encouraged BGMEA member factories with annual export earnings exceeding US$20 million to sponsor one female worker under the programme to help develop future leaders in the garment industry.
Youngone Corporation Chairman Kihak Sung, AUW founder Kamal Ahmed and former BGMEA President Kutubuddin Ahmed also spoke at the event.
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