Competitiveness Rooted in the
Microeconomic Fundamentals
(From page-2)

The major findings of GCR Survey were disseminated at a Press Conference held in the CPD Dialogue Room on August 27,2002. Presenting the survey report before the journalists, CPD Executive Director Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya said that sound macroeconomic policies and stable political and legal institutions are necessary, but not sufficient conditions to ensure a prosperous economy. A nation's prosperity depends on its competitiveness, which is based on the productivity and efficiency of the enterprises in producing goods and services.
Noting the fact that competitiveness is rooted in a nation's microeconomic fundamentals, Dr. Bhattacharya said in the context of globalisation, factors such as the sophistication of company operations and strategies, the quality of both the macro and micro business environment in which

companies compete are becoming increasingly crucial. Bangladesh did well in handling macroeconomic issues, notwithstanding, he noted.

Quoting the GCR 2002 survey report, the CPD Executive Director said, according to 78 per cent companies ,organised crimes like racketeering and extortion cause a significant loss to business. According to 79 per cent of the respondents, reliance on legal framework and reliability on police service for protection of business is declining. Public trust in politicians is very low according to 95 per cent of the companies under survey; the corresponding percentage of companies in 2001 was 91. About 70 per cent of the companies said unfair or corrupt activities of other firms imposed high costs on them. In speaking of infrastructure development, more than 90 per cent of the respondents have said that the country's general infrastructure is poorly developed and inefficient.

CPD Research Director Professor Mustafizur Rahman was also present during the presentation of the survey report.

Forest and Environment Minister Mr. Shahjahan Siraj, MP, said that the present government is sincere about the conservation of forestry and protection of biodiversity and is determined to take whatever steps required in this regard.

The Minister made these assertions at a dialogue entitled Forestry, Forest Biodiversity & Governance: Looking for a Pro-People Policy organised by CPD on July 31, 2001 at the CIRDAP Auditorium, Dhaka. With CPD Chairman Professor Rehman Sobhan in the chair, the dialogue was attended, among others, by Mr. H. N. Ashequr Rahman, a former State Minister for Environment and Forests, as the Special Guest and Dr. Ainun Nishat, Country Director, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as the keynote presenter.
In presenting the keynote paper, co-authored by Dr. Ainun Nishat and Mr. Junaid K. Choudhury, Dr. Nishat laid emphasis on the increasing awareness of the people, need for decentralisation in the decision making process and capacity enhancement of the institutions concerned, particularly the Forest Department. The key presenter categorically pointed out the need to create six different entities to deal with the most crucial aspects of biodiversity conservation production aspects, wildlife management, social forestry, education and research, environmental evaluation and monitoring and population control.
Former Finance Minister Mr. A.M.A. Muhith suggested that development of social forestry throughout the country would prove to be a good step towards the expansion of ever declining forestlands. Mr. H.N. Ashequr Rahman

CPD Executive Director Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya is having a consultation with CPD Chairman Professor Rehman Sobhan during the dialogue. Also seen in the picture are (from left to right): Former State Minister for Environment Mr. H.N. Ashequr Rahman, Forest and Environment Minister Mr. Shahjahan Siraj, MP, Forest and Environment Secretary Mr. Sabihuddin Ahmed, Former Finance Minister Mr. A.M.A. Muhith

stressed the need for awareness about the importance of forestry and biodiversity among the people living in and around the forestlands. Among others, Chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, Mr. Syed Marghub Murshed, Professor Sadeka Halim of Dhaka University, Chief Conservator of Forests Mr. Anwar Faruque, Forest and Environment Secretary Mr. Sabihuddin Ahmed, Environmentalists Mr. Dijen Sharma and Mr. Nawajesh Ali Khan, Dr. Khairul Alam of BFRI, Professor Mesbah-us-Salehin of Jahangirnagar University took part in the open-floor discussion.