International Seminar & Conference on Inclusive Business organized by DBCCI & SNV Netherlands

Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DBCCI) and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation in Bangladesh jointly organized a two days event. International Seminar & Conference on Investment on Inclusive Business during 23-24 September 2020 in Dhaka.

Mr. Md. Anwar Shawkat Afser, President of Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DBCCI) chaired the 2 days event. He highlighted the collaboration among the business entities, investors, innovators on Inclusive Business in the Seminar. Mr. Afser focused on the theme of the Conference how Inclusive Investment for tackling poverty.

Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, the Hon'ble Mayor, Dhaka South City Corporation, Mr K. M. Abdus Salam, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. Sheikh Fazle Fahim, President, FBCCI, H.E. Mr. Harry Verweij, Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, DBCCI Board of Directors, Former Presidents and Distinguished Members, International Development Organizations, Government Officials, NGOs, prominent business leaders and print and electronic media attended the seminar. This International Seminar and Conference on Inclusive Business is intending to create new business eco systems that will deliver value to all, support inclusive growth and manifest the effects of successful public-private partnerships for improving socioeconomic conditions. This program is supported by ICCO Corporation, SDG Wash and Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GK) and Working with Women project-II of SNV Bangladesh funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, the Hon'ble Mayor, Dhaka South City Corporation has attended the seminar as the Chief Guest. He said – Dhaka is a city of opportunity and lots of opportunity to come. Under the leadership of our Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina this city will flourish and prosper like never before. We are formulating our very own master plan for DSCC and the place to invest would be our central business district, we are going to have a new central business district which will be the financial hub of the city and will uplift Dhaka to the international arena. We’ll have to accommodate all the economic activities that are not still formal.

Mr. Sheikh Fazle Fahim, President, FBCCI discussed the impact of Inclusive Business. He also elaborated how FBCCI facilitated the business entity in Bangladesh and the initiative from the government to face the Corona Pandemic.

“‘Expand, brand, stand’ is a slogan that I use for the RMG sector in Bangladesh. Let me explain further. What I meant by ‘brand’ is that Bangladesh should do more to show the rest of the world what is happening here, share the world, the progress and opportunity and show them the willingness to do business in an inclusive and sustainable way. By ‘stand’ I mean that Bangladesh should stand for its people, its values and its products. With ‘Expand’ I mean that Bangladesh should innovate and grow sustainability.” - H. E. Mr. Harry Verweij, Hon’ble Ambassador to the Embassy of Kingdom of Netherlands in Bangladesh emphasised on this while sharing his speech as the guest of honour.

In the second day, Mr. K.M Abdus Salam, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment as the special guest of the event outline the priority of the government and the mandate of Ministry of the Labour and Employment as with the vision 2021 and vision 2041 and also 2030 UN SDG – Inclusive Investment for Inclusive Business must ensure efficiency and financial sustainability in present and future market mechanism and trends focusing people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership.

Dr. Allert van den ham, Country Director SNV Bangladesh, Laos & Myanmar, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation expressed how private sector could be the prime contributor to the development of this country, how one could include the bottom of the pyramid population in the value chain, how can offer valuable product and services that can be procured by the poor. In other words, how can ensure inclusive investment for tackling poverty.

This year's conference aims to find a solution to poverty with efficiency and financial sustainability using market mechanisms through investment modality of inclusive business and to channel future trends of business for the good of underprivileged communities with lower income to zero income. This conference will not outline challenges but stress more into sustainable business solutions in tackling poverty, best practices, new models, innovations, new mindsets, and establish a linkage between corporate and social enterprises.

“SNV has helped numerous private companies across the world to design inclusive business solutions. Our inclusive Business in Bangladesh started in 2014 with the Working with Women Project funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. SNV has been organising inclusive business conferences to start a dialogue and initiate a discussion that would support the growth of the inclusive business market in Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh, the private sector is progressively realizing the potentials of the Inclusive Business concepts for sustainable growth. SNV Netherlands Development Organisation has been incorporating the Inclusive Business models in the Ready-made Garment (RMG) sector since 2014 to improve the health and wellbeing of the workers, with a particular focus on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.