ওয়াসীম সোবহানের ভাবনা

I wrote this piece for Dhaka Tribune. It got published in the Op-Ed section on 09 September 2013.  The relation between China and Hong Kong are more like a single parent and an adopted child who feels he was better treated in his previous foster home. In spite of being rich in terms of wealth and capabilities, Hong Kong is currently being haunted by doubts about its future. The International Monetary Fund in 2010 noted that the prospects of Hong Kong are dominated by the new monetary policy easing in the US, and also domestic recovery, which is partially driven by the mainland’s spillovers. Both these factors fuelled the price of properties in Hong Kong in last five years and might pose to be a major financial risk in the coming years. A recent annual IMF survey stated that Hong Kong is no longer the world’s most competitive economy. Another survey found that Hong Kong slipped from the second position to fifth as China’s most competitive region in 2012. As part of export trade...

Bangladesh is now focusing mostly on export oriented businesses and it is gaining significant success. Currently, promotion of export oriented business is the first priority of the government of Bangladesh. Companies exporting at least 80% of their products or services are to be considered as export oriented businesses. These products also include IT-related goods. The following fiscal and non fiscal incentives are to be provided to bring 100% export oriented businesses: i. Tax free machinery and spare parts importing ii. A flat rate has been established for any exportable item and it is duty free iii. 90% credit against non negotiable sale agreements iv. A prescribed rate for all ready made garment industries and other raw material using export oriented industries v. Export oriented businesses will have the facility to handle a certain amount of foreign currencies vi. Export-oriented cottage industries will be 100% free from income tax vii. Importing banned/ reser...