BRI to foster development, connectivity across global corridors: think-tank

Experts and officials attend an international conference titled "Belt and Road Initiative: Positioning Bangladesh within Comparative Perspectives" in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Sept. 8, 2019.  (Xinhua/Str)

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), a leading Bangladeshi civil society think tank, has said that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) promises to deliver physical and soft infrastructure across its corridors with the aim of improving regional integration, bolstering global trade and fostering economic growth.

The CPD estimates that for Bangladesh too, BRI provides an opportunity to seize benefits, particularly in areas of trade, investment, connectivity, education and tourism, through strong ties with countries particularly in Asia, including India and China.

"Realization of BRI objectives will also help Bangladesh in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," said CPD Executive Director Fahmida Khatun.

She made the remarks during a presentation at an international conference titled "Belt and Road Initiative: Positioning Bangladesh within Comparative Perspectives."

Bangladeshi Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun and Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque, among other local and foreign experts, attended the dialogue which was held on Sunday in Dhaka with CPD Chairman Professor Rehman Sobhan in the chair.

In order for BRI to be successful in this part of the world, Khatun said the operationalization of Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor, connecting the sub-regions of South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia, is crucial.

Bangladeshi Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun said Bangladesh can seize the opportunities originating from BRI to strengthen connectivity for common prosperity.

He expressed the hope that Bangladesh can be in a position to strengthen cooperation and achieve common development and promote economic ties with China to contribute together to global peace and development.

"In an interdependent world no country can develop in an isolated way as there are so many complexities in our economy," said the minister.

He said Bangladesh and China can immensely benefit by joining hands in economic development and uplifting people's living standard.