largest country-based economic corridor, could generate 2.5 billion new jobs by 2050 Will be And overall, there will be employment of around three and a half million people in the region, which is more than three times the current employment in the region.
To build this economic corridor, investing $ 14 billion in the next 30 years for the development of infrastructure including roads, railways, airports, waterways.
These data came out in a study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The study was presented on Tuesday at a program organized by the Bangladesh Investment Promotion Authority (BIDA or BIDA) on Tuesday. ADB's consultant Manish Sharma presented the survey at the Sonargaon Hotel. Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith was the chief guest at that time. Executive Chairman Kazi Aminul Islam presided over the meeting.
ADB's presentation said that this corridor will deepen the economic linkage with the two regions of the country. By building infrastructure, employment will increase on one hand, on the other hand, the market and services of goods and services will be created. This corridor will be mainly centered around six districts. The districts are Dhaka, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Khulna, Bagerhat and Jessore. These districts will be the center of industrial production. If there is a corridor, productivity of the region will reach $ 14 billion in 2050, which is three times higher than the present.
ADB further says this corridor is a comprehensive development plan. Under this corridor, 3,000 km of roads will be developed and renovated. The main road of the corridor will be Jessore-Khulna-Bagerhat-Gopalganj-Takerhat-Bhanga-Padma bridge-Dhaka; Jessore-Magura-Faridpur-Paturia-Dhaka and Jessore-Narail-Kashiani-Bhanga-Padma Bridge-Dhaka
Apart from this, 17 railway links and 4 internal container depots, 8 river ports and 2 waterways will be constructed. For this corridor, the airports of Dhaka, Bagerhat, Patuakhali, Barisal and Jessore can be used. For this, by upgrading these airports, the capacity of the transport will be increased to 50 lakh tonnes per year by 2050. On the other hand, the capacity of handling the products of Chittagong, Mongla and Pigeon seaports will be increased to 78 crore tones.
Discussion:
The chief guest of the ceremony, Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said that the corridor will play an effective role in the overall development of the country. The internal demand of goods and services is increasing in this country. Although the internal demand will increase further. Internal demands will help us to eradicate poverty. Poverty reduction should be given priority in any development plan.
The Finance Minister also said that export of textile sector in India, Vietnam and Cambodia is very good. Bangladesh is doing very well. However, there is a need to diversify the export product. According to him, if you can add domestic value to export products, it will be more beneficial. In this case, leather and leather products may be examples.
Abul Kalam Azad, Chief Coordinator for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) in the Prime Minister's Office, said that private sector investment is needed for the development of this corridor. The main problem in the field of investment is the land. Economic corridors can be built in coastal areas. Because, due to saline water, there is a huge amount of uncultivated land in the region. There is only rides on cattle.
Bidar Executive Chairman Kazi Aminul Islam said that if the economic corridor is to be created, labor-intensive industries will be created in the region, which will play a role in employment.
Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Kazi Shafiqul Azam, Country Director of ADB, Mr. Manmohan Prakash also spoke on the occasion.