BGCCI Magazine Vol 3 Issue 1

EmergingJan.-Mar. 2015Bangladesh

The Business Magazine of the Bangladesh German Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BGCCI)

www.bgcci.com

Special Report

H.E. Pierre MayaudonAmbassador, European Union in Bangladesh

Christian EwertDirector General, Foreign Trade Association (FTA)

Trade AdvocacyFrom Europe to Bangladesh

From 60 to 600 Now time to consolidate

3rd GSR ConferenceAchieving Milestone

Emerging Bangladesh

Volume 3 Issue 1

Jan./ Mar. 2015

The business magazine of the Bangladesh

German Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Emerging Bangladesh will be published

four times p.a. by the Bangladesh German

Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Publisher

Sakhawat Abu Khair on behalf of

Bangladesh German Chamber of

Commerce & Industry It is distributed free

of charge to members and qualified non-

members in Bangladesh and abroad.


Commerce & Industry German House, 1st

Floor, House: 10/C, Road 90, Gulshan 2,

Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh

Tel +88 02 8826480, Fax +88 02 8824858

[email protected],

www.bgcci.com,

www.eurochamber.bangladesh.com,

*All opinions expressed in articles do not

necessarily reflect the views of BGCCI

Features & Advertisement

Tawhidur Rashid

Photography

Din Muhammad Shibly

Design & Layout

Linework

Printed at

Binimoy Printers Ltd.

CONTENTS04 From the Editor 16 News from BGCCI

06 Opening Remarks 17 Inauguration

Intertek Launches New Laboratory

08 Person of Interest

H.E. Pierre Mayaudon, 18 News from GIZ

EU Ambassador Training of Labor Inspectors

12 Special Interview

Christian Ewert

Director General, Foreign Trade Association (FTA)

Page 20

32 Foreign Direct Investment

What Bangladesh Can Learn from

China & India

42 Export Diversification

Diversify or Perish?

44 Health Insurance for

RMG Workers

46 Feature

The Fantastic Seven

20 Follow Up Report

A brief follow up report represents

recommendations from the national and

international panelists

rdThe 3 GSRConference:Shareholder Value Vs Social Responsibility

Emerging Sector

Leather Industry:

The Next Big Thing

Page 36

50 Special Report:

Pave Your Way to Success

Emerging Bangladesh

Volume 3 Issue 1

Jan./ Mar. 2015

The business magazine of the Bangladesh

German Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Emerging Bangladesh will be published

four times p.a. by the Bangladesh German

Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Publisher

Sakhawat Abu Khair on behalf of


Commerce & Industry It is distributed free

of charge to members and qualified non-

members in Bangladesh and abroad.


Commerce & Industry German House, 1st

Floor, House: 10/C, Road 90, Gulshan 2,

Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh

Tel +88 02 8826480, Fax +88 02 8824858

[email protected],

www.bgcci.com,

www.eurochamber.bangladesh.com,

*All opinions expressed in articles do not

necessarily reflect the views of BGCCI

Features & Advertisement

Tawhidur Rashid

Photography

Din Muhammad Shibly

Design & Layout

Linework

Printed at

Binimoy Printers Ltd.

CONTENTS04 From the Editor 16 News from BGCCI

06 Opening Remarks 17 Inauguration

Intertek Launches New Laboratory

08 Person of Interest

H.E. Pierre Mayaudon, 18 News from GIZ

EU Ambassador Training of Labor Inspectors

12 Special Interview

Christian Ewert

Director General, Foreign Trade Association (FTA)

Page 20

32 Foreign Direct Investment

What Bangladesh Can Learn from

China & India

42 Export Diversification


44 Health Insurance for

RMG Workers

46 Feature

The Fantastic Seven

20 Follow Up Report

A brief follow up report represents

recommendations from the national and

international panelists

rdThe 3 GSRConference:Shareholder Value Vs Social Responsibility

Emerging Sector

Leather Industry:

The Next Big Thing

Page 36

50 Special Report:

Pave Your Way to Success

{Emerging Bangladesh} January - March 201504

This issue of 'Emerging Bangladesh' is establishment of functioning trade

special for a number of reasons. We unions of workers; and above all the

have brought before you two very change of mindset has started. BGCCI

important interviews. In one of the is glad that we ended the year with the

interviews, H.E. Pierre Mayaudon, very successful completion of 3rd

Head of Delegation of European Globa l Soc i a l Respons ib i l i t y

Union to Bangladesh speaks about Conference: Shareholder Value Vs

the prospects of Bangladesh's Blue Social Responsibility. The conference

Economy and Digital upsurge. He has dealt with crucial issues like RMG and

befittingly informed us about the Fire Safety, Leather Industry, Social

recently formed European Business Protection of Workers, Proper Use of

Council in Bangladesh (EUBCB) and Waste Water and Technical Vocational

its aims. His Excellency has rightly Education Training (TVET). A brief of

pointed out the importance to realize GSR Conference follow-up report will

Bangladesh’s vision to become a support you to know more about the

middle-income country by 2021 and recommendations that our national and

how to achieve that. international panelists offered for

Further, we have interviewed future.

Christian Ewert, the honorable This issue also sheds more lights on

Director General of the Foreign Leather industry of Bangladesh. This

Trade Association(FTA) . He new sector is supposed to accelerate in

underlines the importance of the country. This sector can do what

changing the mindset of the business RMG did for Bangladesh.

owners to adopt more responsible A report on Studying Business in

business practices. He has explained Germany as well as European

the experience of business audits by Universities will help the 2nd

Business Social Compliance Initiative generation to proceed with a foreign

(BSCI) in the RMG Sector. Besides degree.

improving the building and electrical Last but not least, this month

safety of factories, it is the duty of Bangladesh is going to celebrate its

entrepreneurs and international 45th Independence Day. On behalf of

brands to focus on secured working BGCCI secretariat, we wish everyone a

environment. glorious and joyful celebration and a

As we look forward to commemorate peaceful political environment in order

the 2nd Anniversary of Rana Plaza to do better business.

Tragedy in a month, this is very much

needed for all of us to understand that In partnership,

there is no alternate to business models

which are compliant for workers as well

as environment. 2014 was a significant

year for all parties: factory owners,

brands, policymakers due to all the small Daniel Seidl

and big changes that took place in the Executive Director

RMG sector starting from factories’

load management to fire safety issues to

FROM THE EDITOR

Dear BGCCI Members and Readers,

On 28 May of 2013, BGCCI did something extra more popular. Economic balance of the world is shifting

ordinary. The biggest bilateral business chamber of the from the west to the east and Asian countries are coming

country led other six bilateral chambers to come forward up with more time-appropriate strategies to embrace the

and declare its position against violent hartals. The possibilities. Countries like China, which attracted the

political turbulence that caused much trouble to the most FDI in the world surpassing USA offers a wide

economy then however ended by beginning of 2014. range of lessons for Bangladesh to learn. World Bank's

Nevertheless, little did we know that we would found doing business in Bangladesh 2015 on the other hand

ourselves in the same or to much extent even worse reminds us about the slow economic reforms that is

critical juncture due to another political deadlock. Similar causing Bangladesh lag behind in the country index. To

kind of mindless arson attacks and violent hartals have attract more FDI, Bangladesh must ensure its ease of

already crippled the economy of the country. BGCCI is a doing business or someone else from the neighboring

non-political chamber yet we condemn such conditions countries will grab that share of the pie for sure.

because we believe for the betterment of the private We all know that business as usual is no more an option!

sector that is the driving force of our economy, such To suit the need of time, to ensure sustainability, we need

conditions should not prevail. Hartal is a constitutional to adopt business models that fuel innovation and

right but violent hartals as we have said time and again encourage compliance. This is where BGCCI's Global

should not be tolerated. Politicians must seek out a long Social Responsibility Conference provides the best

lasting solution; otherwise, the prospects of our emerging possible platform to exchange ideas. Last year's

economy cannot be utilized properly. We the businessmen conference was a revelation for many businessmen as

have made our stand clear in this regard. industry experts share plenty of best business practices.

Pessimism aside, this issue of BGCCI's quarterly We must not forget that action should speak louder than

magazine, 'Emerging Bangladesh' talks more about words and it is time to implement sustainable business

possibilities of Bangladeshi economy in case of trade and ideas for a greener and better tomorrow.

CSR. Around the world, free trade is becoming more and

OPENING REMARKSOPENING REMARKS


QYou have been in Bangladesh for a that Bangladesh has quite interesting

while now. How has the experience specificities, and it is very rewarding for

been so far? me to be posted in Dhaka. In addition, EU

I am really glad that I got posted in in Bangladesh benefits from a quite

Bangladesh, and got to work for EU in unique exposure. Therefore, whatever

Bangladesh. I find the country fascinating happens in Bangladesh matters a lot to EU.

and inspiring. Before coming here I was

posted in several Asia Pacific countries You just mentioned about many

including Japan, Korea and Singapore. specificities of Bangladesh. Would

Until last August, I was the Deputy Head you like to mention a few?

of EU delegation in Pakistan. But I found I admire the fantastic achievements of

09{Emerging Bangladesh} bgcci.com

Bangladesh in recent years in terms of meeting

some of the Millennium Development Goals

(MDG) and economic progress. The GDP

growth has not been under 6% in the last

decade which is in stark contrast to many Asia

Pacific countries. In my opinion, the distinctive

feature of Bangladesh is the collective will of its

people to move the country forward. The

country is also facing great challenges of

various natures. Climate change is definitely one

of them.

PERSON OF INTEREST

H.E. Pierre MayaudonHead of Delegation

European Union in Bangladesh

In my opinion, the

distinctive feature of

Bangladesh is the

collective will of its

people to move the

country forward. The

country is also facing

great challenges of

various natures.

Climate change is

definitely one of them.

�

�


QYou have been in Bangladesh for a that Bangladesh has quite interesting

while now. How has the experience specificities, and it is very rewarding for

been so far? me to be posted in Dhaka. In addition, EU

I am really glad that I got posted in in Bangladesh benefits from a quite

Bangladesh, and got to work for EU in unique exposure. Therefore, whatever

Bangladesh. I find the country fascinating happens in Bangladesh matters a lot to EU.

and inspiring. Before coming here I was

posted in several Asia Pacific countries You just mentioned about many

including Japan, Korea and Singapore. specificities of Bangladesh. Would

Until last August, I was the Deputy Head you like to mention a few?

of EU delegation in Pakistan. But I found I admire the fantastic achievements of


Bangladesh in recent years in terms of meeting

some of the Millennium Development Goals

(MDG) and economic progress. The GDP

growth has not been under 6% in the last

decade which is in stark contrast to many Asia

Pacific countries. In my opinion, the distinctive

feature of Bangladesh is the collective will of its

people to move the country forward. The

country is also facing great challenges of

various natures. Climate change is definitely one

of them.

PERSON OF INTEREST

H.E. Pierre MayaudonHead of Delegation

European Union in Bangladesh

In my opinion, the

distinctive feature of

Bangladesh is the

collective will of its

people to move the

country forward. The

country is also facing

great challenges of

various natures.

Climate change is

definitely one of them.

�

�


You have been to investor friendly EU Delegation, in close partnership Minister Sheikh Hasina has been very

countries like Japan, Singapore with our Member States' diplomatic appreciative of the initiative and so is

which have a very stable economy. missions, has created the EUBCB the honorable Commerce Minister

On the other hand, Bangladesh is (European Union Business Council Tofail Ahmed.

lagging behind in terms of investor Bangladesh). The EUBCB will help us

friendliness according to several answering the pivotal question you are Can you name a project of the 'Blue

World Bank reports. What is your raising: what are the specific sectors, but Economy' initiative which has

take on that? also institutions and procedures that already started and where you see a

If we look back, decades ago, need to be revisited for Bangladesh to lot of promise?

Bangladesh was mired in extreme become a knowledge-based economy? Blue Economy is indeed a very

poverty. But with individual and inspiring concept and, more than a

collective efforts, this issue has been Who will be members of this concept, a vision. We are willing to

addressed even though a lot remains to business council and what will the contribute to this vision becoming a

be done. Bangladesh is now moving setup be like? reality. Dhaka University has recently

towards becoming a middle income EUBCB is already an existing and opened a department of Oceanography.

country. Effective trade and investment, running entity. The members are the The EU Delegation will financially

not just exports, can be a strong driver EU delegation to Bangladesh and the 8 support some activities that have been

of this demarche. Addressing the issue heads of diplomatic missions initiated by the French Embassy, mostly

of tariff and non-tariff barriers is key to representing the member states of EU related to professors visiting from

becoming an investment-friendly based in Dhaka. We have also invited France to give lectures at this

country. the corresponding bilateral Chambers department. We have other ideas that I

of Commerce. So, this is an informal would be glad to share with you at a later

Is there any particular sector where hybrid setup of both diplomats and stage.

Bangladesh should look to reform, business people.

w i t h a s s i s t a n c e f r o m E U, We have a simple but still challenging What about the projects regarding

considering the current political ambition: to identify the obstacles to 'Digital Bangladesh'?

situation, which has inevitably doing business in Bangladesh and to This is another quite inspiring vision.

discouraged FDI inflow? learn to cope with them. We are in the Contrary to Blue Economy which is still

Investors hate uncertainty, that's a process of defining an 'Advocacy in the conceiving phase, this country is

universal reality. This being said, the EU Platform' that will provide us with the already doing well on its own to become

has a strong will to be a partner in the t e c h n i c a l e l e m e n t s a l l o w i n g 'Digital Bangladesh'. Going further

transformation of Bangladesh's constructive discussions with the local would probably make access to more

economy. With a view to redefining the relevant stakeholders, starting with the advanced technologies a necessity. EU

economic relation with Bangladesh, the Government. The honorable Prime has a lot of experience in this field and

“EUBCB is already an existing and running entity. The members are the

EU delegation to Bangladesh and the 8 heads of diplomatic missions

representing the member states of EU based in Dhaka. We have also

invited the corresponding bilateral Chambers of Commerce. So, this is an

informal hybrid setup of both diplomats and business people.”


would be willing to make Bangladesh and the US) was precisely agreed upon with the business community?

benefit from its experience and to prevent further tragic incidents. I observe that they are already doing

expertise. There are two major areas where the quite well. And this message of

EU and other signatories of the appreciation certainly applies to the

How can Bangladesh help these Compact are focusing their attention: German Chamber of Commerce.

projects to materialize and how can the issuance of the amended rules and Proper in for mat ion , dynamic

EU reciprocate? regulation related to the revised mobilization and strong advocacy are

At this stage, we are very much in the Bangladesh labor Act and the updating critical to the success of the chambers

identification process. The RMG of the EPZ law. of commerce. Despite its informal and

industry is today the prominent flexible structure, or thanks to it, these

industry of Bangladesh but we have What is your take on the leather are qualities that the EUBCB will try to

noted the interest for diversification in industry of Bangladesh and does emulate.

some specific sectors that include ship EU have any plans regarding the

building, IT, pharmaceutical and leather industry? Right now we are going through a

industry. EU has launched a 7 year Our support to "skills development" political instability. Is it just in

development program (2014-2020) can obviously benefit the leather Bangladesh or do you think that this

where one of the components, "skills industry. Environmental issues also is a global trend across the countries

development", can obviously serve this need to be looked at when dealing with having a huge population and lack

purpose. leather. On this note, let me remind you of education?

that environment is a key component Regardless of their level of education,

Is EU happy with the worker safety of the new EU GSP Plus market access people want peace. And the more

issues in the RMG factories in regime. One day not too far ahead, numerous they are on a single territory,

Bangladesh after the tragic Bangladesh will graduate from the EBA peace is essential to the preservation

incidents of 2013 and 2014? regime and will be eligible to the EU and the improvement of their

60% of the RMG exports of GSP Plus. However the ultimate livelihood. Whatever the reasons may

Bangladesh go to the EU market. So, decision to grant Bangladesh GSP Plus be, the political violence needs to stop

EU has always been concerned about will be taken on the account that 27 core as it makes the life of millions quite

anything and everything that is UN convent ions are properly miserable and hampers the economic

happening in the RMG industry of implemented in this country. They development. A sustainable solution

Bangladesh. EU has taken a firm stance relate to human rights, labor rights, needs to be figured out to ensure that

those tragedies like Rana Plaza tragedy governance and … environment. peace and stability prevail.

to never occur again. The Sustainability

Compac t among fou r a c to r s How can bilateral chambers play a

(Government of Bangladesh, EU, ILO more engaging and dynamic role

Our support to "skills development" can obviously benefit the leather

industry. Environmental issues also need to be looked at when dealing with

leather. On this note, let me remind you that environment is a key

component of the new EU GSP Plus market access regime. One day not too

far ahead, Bangladesh will graduate from the EBA regime and will be

eligible to the EU GSP Plus.

PERSON OF INTEREST


You have been to investor friendly EU Delegation, in close partnership Minister Sheikh Hasina has been very

countries like Japan, Singapore with our Member States' diplomatic appreciative of the initiative and so is

which have a very stable economy. missions, has created the EUBCB the honorable Commerce Minister

On the other hand, Bangladesh is (European Union Business Council Tofail Ahmed.

lagging behind in terms of investor Bangladesh). The EUBCB will help us

friendliness according to several answering the pivotal question you are Can you name a project of the 'Blue

World Bank reports. What is your raising: what are the specific sectors, but Economy' initiative which has

take on that? also institutions and procedures that already started and where you see a

If we look back, decades ago, need to be revisited for Bangladesh to lot of promise?

Bangladesh was mired in extreme become a knowledge-based economy? Blue Economy is indeed a very

poverty. But with individual and inspiring concept and, more than a

collective efforts, this issue has been Who will be members of this concept, a vision. We are willing to

addressed even though a lot remains to business council and what will the contribute to this vision becoming a

be done. Bangladesh is now moving setup be like? reality. Dhaka University has recently

towards becoming a middle income EUBCB is already an existing and opened a department of Oceanography.

country. Effective trade and investment, running entity. The members are the The EU Delegation will financially

not just exports, can be a strong driver EU delegation to Bangladesh and the 8 support some activities that have been

of this demarche. Addressing the issue heads of diplomatic missions initiated by the French Embassy, mostly

of tariff and non-tariff barriers is key to representing the member states of EU related to professors visiting from

becoming an investment-friendly based in Dhaka. We have also invited France to give lectures at this

country. the corresponding bilateral Chambers department. We have other ideas that I

of Commerce. So, this is an informal would be glad to share with you at a later

Is there any particular sector where hybrid setup of both diplomats and stage.

Bangladesh should look to reform, business people.

w i t h a s s i s t a n c e f r o m E U, We have a simple but still challenging What about the projects regarding

considering the current political ambition: to identify the obstacles to 'Digital Bangladesh'?

situation, which has inevitably doing business in Bangladesh and to This is another quite inspiring vision.

discouraged FDI inflow? learn to cope with them. We are in the Contrary to Blue Economy which is still

Investors hate uncertainty, that's a process of defining an 'Advocacy in the conceiving phase, this country is

universal reality. This being said, the EU Platform' that will provide us with the already doing well on its own to become

has a strong will to be a partner in the t e c h n i c a l e l e m e n t s a l l o w i n g 'Digital Bangladesh'. Going further

transformation of Bangladesh's constructive discussions with the local would probably make access to more

economy. With a view to redefining the relevant stakeholders, starting with the advanced technologies a necessity. EU

economic relation with Bangladesh, the Government. The honorable Prime has a lot of experience in this field and

“EUBCB is already an existing and running entity. The members are the

EU delegation to Bangladesh and the 8 heads of diplomatic missions

representing the member states of EU based in Dhaka. We have also

invited the corresponding bilateral Chambers of Commerce. So, this is an

informal hybrid setup of both diplomats and business people.”


would be willing to make Bangladesh and the US) was precisely agreed upon with the business community?

benefit from its experience and to prevent further tragic incidents. I observe that they are already doing

expertise. There are two major areas where the quite well. And this message of

EU and other signatories of the appreciation certainly applies to the

How can Bangladesh help these Compact are focusing their attention: German Chamber of Commerce.

projects to materialize and how can the issuance of the amended rules and Proper in for mat ion , dynamic

EU reciprocate? regulation related to the revised mobilization and strong advocacy are

At this stage, we are very much in the Bangladesh labor Act and the updating critical to the success of the chambers

identification process. The RMG of the EPZ law. of commerce. Despite its informal and

industry is today the prominent flexible structure, or thanks to it, these

industry of Bangladesh but we have What is your take on the leather are qualities that the EUBCB will try to

noted the interest for diversification in industry of Bangladesh and does emulate.

some specific sectors that include ship EU have any plans regarding the

building, IT, pharmaceutical and leather industry? Right now we are going through a

industry. EU has launched a 7 year Our support to "skills development" political instability. Is it just in

development program (2014-2020) can obviously benefit the leather Bangladesh or do you think that this

where one of the components, "skills industry. Environmental issues also is a global trend across the countries

development", can obviously serve this need to be looked at when dealing with having a huge population and lack

purpose. leather. On this note, let me remind you of education?

that environment is a key component Regardless of their level of education,

Is EU happy with the worker safety of the new EU GSP Plus market access people want peace. And the more

issues in the RMG factories in regime. One day not too far ahead, numerous they are on a single territory,

Bangladesh after the tragic Bangladesh will graduate from the EBA peace is essential to the preservation

incidents of 2013 and 2014? regime and will be eligible to the EU and the improvement of their

60% of the RMG exports of GSP Plus. However the ultimate livelihood. Whatever the reasons may

Bangladesh go to the EU market. So, decision to grant Bangladesh GSP Plus be, the political violence needs to stop

EU has always been concerned about will be taken on the account that 27 core as it makes the life of millions quite

anything and everything that is UN convent ions are properly miserable and hampers the economic

happening in the RMG industry of implemented in this country. They development. A sustainable solution

Bangladesh. EU has taken a firm stance relate to human rights, labor rights, needs to be figured out to ensure that

those tragedies like Rana Plaza tragedy governance and … environment. peace and stability prevail.

to never occur again. The Sustainability

Compac t among fou r a c to r s How can bilateral chambers play a

(Government of Bangladesh, EU, ILO more engaging and dynamic role

Our support to "skills development" can obviously benefit the leather

industry. Environmental issues also need to be looked at when dealing with

leather. On this note, let me remind you that environment is a key

component of the new EU GSP Plus market access regime. One day not too

far ahead, Bangladesh will graduate from the EBA regime and will be

eligible to the EU GSP Plus.

PERSON OF INTEREST

13{Emerging Bangladesh} bgcci.com{Emerging Bangladesh} January - March 201512

SPECIAL INTERVIEW

In December 2014 you became the environmental performance. impacting the garment industry since

new Director General of the Foreign the beginning of the year and resulted As FTA Director General, I am looking

Trade Association (FTA). Can you in several casualties. All parties involved forward to meeting the challenges and

explain what role FTA plays in the must engage in peaceful and seizing the opportunities that the fast-

international trade scene and the constructive dialogue to address the changing world of global supply chains

va l u e s a n d p r i n c i p l e s t h e root causes of the discontent and put will face us with.

association advocates? an end to violence without delay.

Moreover, the sector needs to continue As one of the main sourcing FTA is the business association of

cooperating closely with the different countries for European retailers, European and International commerce

initiatives established to improve how do you perceive Bangladesh that promotes the values of free trade

factories' building and fire safety and and how can trade relations still and sustainable supply chains. We

ensure workers' protection, such as the improve?believe these two elements are key and

Accord, Alliance, Global Sustainability work in tandem to enhance growth and The relevance the country has for our Compact and especially the National development all along the supply chain, members is clear since Bangladesh is Tripartite Plan of Action. Investing in including producers in sourcing the world's second largest exporter of good and safe working conditions is an countries. For this reason, we advocate Ready Made Garments (RMG). This essential element for the survival of the policies that facilitate trade and remove industry, together with the increased industry and BSCI participants are barriers to increase ties between fore ign investment and trade firmly engaged with their producers to businesses, while also promoting established with other countries have make this a reality. responsible business practices that contributed greatly to the economic observe compliance with social and Through the social compliance growth of Bangladesh in the last environmental legislat ions and initiative BSCI, your association has decades and this development should international conventions. been engaged in Bangladesh for be further promoted. As an association

more than a decade to improve that advocates a liberalised framework To support our more than 1,500

working conditions in the garment for trade, we support all initiatives members which include retailers,

industry. Can you explain more aimed to strengthen business relations importers, brands and national trade

what BSCI's work is and, from your around the world. In this sense, we associations in Europe to meet societal

perspective and experience, how welcome the recently launched expectations of greater transparency

has the country progressed?'EUBangladesh Business Council' that and accountability, FTA created the

the European Union set up in early Business Social Compliance Initiative BSCI provides companies with a

2015 to identify and address obstacles holist ic system towards social (BSCI) over a decade ago. This initiative

to trade and investment between the compliance that not only focuses on supports companies in improving

EU and Bangladesh.independent auditing activities, but working conditions in factories and

Bangladesh and the RMG sector in complements them with two other farms from where they source.

particular have a lot of potential, but in essential pillars. The first is the Furthermore, to fully complement our

order to continue exploiting it, the coordination of capacity building vision of sustainable trade, we have

government and the business sector activities, both for BSCI participating recently launched the Business

must as well address certain challenges companies and their producers, to help Environmental Performance Initiative

that are putting growth at risk. The them build the knowledge and skills (BEPI), to address the needs of our

required to succeed. The second is members to improve their producers' current political unrest is strongly

Christian Ewert

FTA Director General

“We need to shift the mindset of the garment

sector to move beyond audit compliance to

embedding a culture of responsible business

practices.”


SPECIAL INTERVIEW

In December 2014 you became the environmental performance. impacting the garment industry since

new Director General of the Foreign the beginning of the year and resulted As FTA Director General, I am looking

Trade Association (FTA). Can you in several casualties. All parties involved forward to meeting the challenges and

explain what role FTA plays in the must engage in peaceful and seizing the opportunities that the fast-

international trade scene and the constructive dialogue to address the changing world of global supply chains

va l u e s a n d p r i n c i p l e s t h e root causes of the discontent and put will face us with.

association advocates? an end to violence without delay.

Moreover, the sector needs to continue As one of the main sourcing FTA is the business association of

cooperating closely with the different countries for European retailers, European and International commerce

initiatives established to improve how do you perceive Bangladesh that promotes the values of free trade

factories' building and fire safety and and how can trade relations still and sustainable supply chains. We

ensure workers' protection, such as the improve?believe these two elements are key and

Accord, Alliance, Global Sustainability work in tandem to enhance growth and The relevance the country has for our Compact and especially the National development all along the supply chain, members is clear since Bangladesh is Tripartite Plan of Action. Investing in including producers in sourcing the world's second largest exporter of good and safe working conditions is an countries. For this reason, we advocate Ready Made Garments (RMG). This essential element for the survival of the policies that facilitate trade and remove industry, together with the increased industry and BSCI participants are barriers to increase ties between fore ign investment and trade firmly engaged with their producers to businesses, while also promoting established with other countries have make this a reality. responsible business practices that contributed greatly to the economic observe compliance with social and Through the social compliance growth of Bangladesh in the last environmental legislat ions and initiative BSCI, your association has decades and this development should international conventions. been engaged in Bangladesh for be further promoted. As an association

more than a decade to improve that advocates a liberalised framework To support our more than 1,500

working conditions in the garment for trade, we support all initiatives members which include retailers,

industry. Can you explain more aimed to strengthen business relations importers, brands and national trade

what BSCI's work is and, from your around the world. In this sense, we associations in Europe to meet societal

perspective and experience, how welcome the recently launched expectations of greater transparency

has the country progressed?'EUBangladesh Business Council' that and accountability, FTA created the

the European Union set up in early Business Social Compliance Initiative BSCI provides companies with a

2015 to identify and address obstacles holist ic system towards social (BSCI) over a decade ago. This initiative

to trade and investment between the compliance that not only focuses on supports companies in improving

EU and Bangladesh.independent auditing activities, but working conditions in factories and

Bangladesh and the RMG sector in complements them with two other farms from where they source.

particular have a lot of potential, but in essential pillars. The first is the Furthermore, to fully complement our

order to continue exploiting it, the coordination of capacity building vision of sustainable trade, we have

government and the business sector activities, both for BSCI participating recently launched the Business

must as well address certain challenges companies and their producers, to help Environmental Performance Initiative

that are putting growth at risk. The them build the knowledge and skills (BEPI), to address the needs of our

required to succeed. The second is members to improve their producers' current political unrest is strongly

Christian Ewert

FTA Director General

“We need to shift the mindset of the garment

sector to move beyond audit compliance to

embedding a culture of responsible business

practices.”


engaging in dialogue with local in 2003 and during this time, hundreds positive and that the apparel exports

stakeholders in sourcing countries. of garment producers in Bangladesh will continue growing and moving up Problems are generally specific to a have been involved and have actively the value chain in the future. But to country and /or sector and solutions participated in our trainings. Compared realise their potential and maintain such must be sought by keeping a close to a decade ago, awareness about social a leading position in the garment sector collaboration with local actors. compliance has increased significantly worldwide, certain preconditions must

and progress is visible, but we still face a be met. The industry is mature enough Within BSCI, participants actively bigger challenge ahead: the need to shift

to develop good management practices engage their producers in our system the mindset of the garment industry to

that take into account that compliance and support them through a continuous move beyond audit compliance to

is not just about a good social audit improvement process. This journey is embedding a culture of responsible

aimed at progressively enabling them to result, but about the wellbeing of business practices. Only when workers,

take ownership and address the workers and the success and reputation factory owners and managers truly challenges within their own supply of their companies and the sector as a understand, integrate and implement chain. We believe such long-term whole. Moreover, the environmental sustainable policies in the day to day engagement is key to build strong performance of these producers and activities, we will be witnesses of a business partnerships based on mutual the i r ab i l i t y to r educe the i r profound and ground-breaking change. trust and to achieve sustainable and

environmental impact will as well be durable progress. What are your prospects for the

d e c i s i v e t o m a i n t a i n t h e i r country in the coming years?

competitiveness. BEPI will support As you rightly mention, BSCI has been

them in facing this challenge.present in the country since its creation I believe the country's outlook is very

Figure: Results of BSCI Audits in Bangladesh per chapter (Producers having gone through a full and re-audit)

“BSCI provides companies with a holistic system towards social

compliance that not only focuses on independent auditing activities,

but complements them with two other essential pillars.”


NEWS FROM BGCCI

In the picture you can see Mr. Adnan and Ms Tanzeena with GDS Fair, the first trade fair Mr. Joachim Schäfer, Managing Director of Messe

worldwide with a clear focus on Dusseldorf. BGCCI is the local representative of Messe Dusseldorf. To know more about upcoming fairs and private labels in the shoe and b o o k i n g , p l e a s e c o n t a c t Ta n z e e n a K h a n a t accessory industry took place in [email protected]

Messe Dusseldorf, Germany

The BGCCI officials Mr. Adnan Nafis, Head of Trade Promotion, CSR and Consultancy and Ms. Tanzeena khan Asst. Manager, Trade Promotion and Messe Dusseldorf representative went to visit Messe Dusseldorf, Germany from 3rd February, to 8th February, 2015 for attending a knowledge sharing session and the GDS fair.There they meet with the heads of different fairs and the Management of Messe Dusseldorf like Mr. Hans Werner Reinhard, Managing Director, Mr. Joachim Schäfer, Managing Director, Jens Steinbach, Area Manager Asia Pacific and others. They have shared knowledge about important fair for Bangladesh and discussed about the strategy to promote the fairs of Dusseldorf in Bangladesh.

for textiles to accessories, bleaching and washing, dyeing, 12th International Textile and knitting, cutting and laying and computer software. Finance

Garment Industry Exhibition 2015 Minister AMA Muhith inaugurated the four-day event at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre that is jointly ended recentlyorganized by Bangladesh Textile Mills Association in association and Taiwan's Chan Chao Int'l Company and Hong BGCCI Head of Membership Tanzer Siddique and Assistant Kong's Yorkers Trade and Marketing Service Company.Manager of Business Development Rafael Stemplewski In the picture: Tanzer Siddique, Head of Membership with visited the recently ended 12th Dhaka International Textile Hubert Volk Senior Manager Sales, Groz-Beckert KG; and Garment Industry Exhibition 2015. They met different Representative from the same company; Rafael buyers and exchange ideas about Bangladesh’s potential in the Stemplewski, Asst. Manager, Business Development, sector and discussed about a number of textile relation issues.BGCCI; Sanjeev Sharma; Sales Director (Bangladesh) Despite the political unrest, the exposition witnessed 900 Groz-Beckert Asia Pvt. Ltd.; Klaus Hacker, Vice President garment and textile machine makers from 33 countries, who Sales, Groz-Beckert KGhave have come with modern machines and technologies --

{Emerging Bangladesh} April - June 201400

INAUGRATION

Intertek, a leading quality solutions Foo twea r Manufac tu r e r s and provider to industries worldwide, has Exporters Association of Bangladesh, inaugurated a comprehensive leather Managing Director, Apex Footwear and footwear testing facility in Limited also graced the occasion as Bangladesh to support the leather, special guests.footwear and leather goods industries According to the Bangladesh Export in South Asia. Promotion Bureau, the country's The leather and footwear testing lab leather exports industry is estimated to will be housed in Intertek's Tejgaon, be approximately $1 billion, as Dhaka, location, which opened last year competitive prices and improved and is the largest Softlines testing lab in quality has attracted an increasing Asia. The new leather and footwear number of importers from Asia and testing capabilities provide additional Europe. Approximately 80% of the quality and safety assurance solutions country's leather production is for the leather, footwear and leather exported, making quality an important goods industries throughout South aspect for the industry. This is an Asia in countries like India, Bangladesh, environmentally friendly lab with

strategic addition to our existing Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. features like energy-efficient lighting, Softlines facility, empowering us to test T he l ab was inaugura ted by water recycling and effluent treatment and certify leather and footwear Hedayetullah al Mamoon, ndc, plant. The hi-tech testing lab is products to support this industry in the honourable Senior Secretary, Ministry equipped with state-of-art technology countr y. In ter tek a l so of fers of Commerce, Govt. of the People's and features centralized monitoring environmental auditing, testing, safety Republic of Bangladesh. Engr. M Abu and controlling.assessments and technical training Taher, Chairman, Bangladesh Finished Commenting on the launch, Karthik services to the industry.”Leather, Leathergoods & Footwear N.D., Director Softlines and Business The lab will provide competitive edge Exporters' Association Chairman, Assurance for Intertek Bangladesh to regional clients who require high Fortuna Bangladesh and Syed Nasim added, “This dedicated accredited standards of quality and safety for their Manzur, President, Leathergoods & leather and footwear laboratory is a products, while ensuring they achieve

acceptable standards for global buyers.

From auditing and inspection, to

testing, training, advisory, quality

assurance and certification, Intertek

adds value for its customers by helping

improve the quality and safety of their

products, assets and processes. With a

network of more than 1,000

laboratories and offices and over

36,000 people in more than 100

c o u n t r i e s , I n t e r t e k s u p p o r t s

companies' success in the global

marketplace, by helping customers to

meet end users' expectations for safety,

sustainability, performance, integrity

and desirability in virtually any market

worldwide.

Intertek Inaugurates

Leather and Footwear Laboratory in Dhaka

Key Highlights of the Laboratory:

Performance, mechanical and

chemical tests Shoes and shoes

materials

Leather and leather goods

Accessories

All major methods including ISO,

ASTM, AATCC, BS EN, SATRA,

DIN, GB-Chinese standard

National Accreditation Board for

Testing and Calibration Laboratories

(NABL) by ISO 17025:2005

•

•

•

•

•

Karthik N.D., Director Softlines and Business Assurance for Intertek Bangladesh speaking before the audience


GIZ

"The training of 200 new labour

inspectors is an important step

forward to ensure workplace safety

for garments workers after

Tazreen and Rana Plaza incidents,

which is appreciated worldwide",

said Magnus Schmid, Program

Coordinator of Promotion of

Soc ia l and Environmenta l

Standards in the Industry (PSES),

implemented by Deutsche

Gesellschaft für Internationale

Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

GIZ on behalf of the German

Federal Ministry for Economic

Cooperation and Development

Shipar.

Besides, GIZ provides on the job trainings for

labor inspectors in factories. 32 laptops in

order to ensure a proper reporting system of

the inspections, which will be published on

DIFE's website in future, has been provided by

GIZ.

(BMZ) and in cooperation with

ILO is jointly conducting the

training courses for the new labor

inspectors of DIFE under the

MoLE. GIZ provides three

permanent trainers, along with ILO

who train the new inspectors in

labour standards and inspection

techniques in Bangla.

The orientation programme was

attended by the State Minister for

Labour and Employment Md.

Mujibul Haque Chunnu and the

Secretary of the Ministry Mikail

Strengthening Capacity of Labour Inspectors


rd3 GSR Conference:Shareholder Value

VsSocial Responsibility

FOLLOW UP


The focus of the discussions about 3rd facing enormous challenges in relation Conference, highlighting the benefit of

G loba l Soc i a l Re spons ib i l i t y to water contamination, energy addressing environmental and social

Conference was “Shareholder Value Vs shortage, waste and social protection impac t s w i th innova t ive and

Social Responsibility”. Since the last issues that if not timely and properly responsible solutions. Executive

decade, Bangladesh has experienced addressed, will undermine its growth Director of BGCCI and the Master of

economic progress with a growth of path and result in causing potential the Ceremony Daniel Seidl opened the

approximately 6% due to increase in harm towards society and the first session. He explained the theme of

investments in various industrial environment. In order to respond to the conference in his opening speech.

sectors mainly attracted by low labour these cha l l eng es, BGCCI , in He briefly reflected on why shareholder

c o s t s . Te x t i l e , a g r i b u s i n e s s , cooperation with its partners, aimed to value is of utmost importance for the

construction and service sectors were foster a better understanding of social sustainability of a business. The

sectors that were the most impacted by responsibility among the participants inauguration speech was given by H.E.

the development. Bangladesh is now of the 3rd Global Social Responsibility Pierre Mayaudon, Ambassador, the

Daniel Seidl, Executive Director, BGCCI; Dr. Shanmuga Sundaram, Managing Director, TUV Rheinland; Dr.

Ferdinand von Weyhe, Charge’d Affaires, Ambassdor, German Embassy; H.E. Gerben de Jong, Ambassador,

Netherlands Embassy; Sakhawat Abu Khair, BGCCI, President; A.B.M. Khorshed Alam, CEO & Additional

Secretary, NSDC Secretariat; Nazma Akter, Executive Director, Awaj Foundation; Amy Yee, independent

Journalist & Contributor for The New York Times; Tuomo Poutiainen, Programme Manager, Ready-Made

Garment Sector, ILO Dhaka;Rob Wayss, Executive Director, The Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building

Safety; Magnus Schmid, Coordinator, PSES, GIZ Bangladesh; Mesbah Rabin, Managing Director, Alliance for

Bangladesh Workers Safety; Abdul Jabbar, MD, DBL group; Olaf Handloegten, Global Initiative on Disaster Risk

Management Head of Management Unit, Security, Reconstruction and Peace


rd3 GSR Conference:Shareholder Value

VsSocial Responsibility

FOLLOW UP


The focus of the discussions about 3rd facing enormous challenges in relation Conference, highlighting the benefit of

G loba l Soc i a l Re spons ib i l i t y to water contamination, energy addressing environmental and social

Conference was “Shareholder Value Vs shortage, waste and social protection impac t s w i th innova t ive and

Social Responsibility”. Since the last issues that if not timely and properly responsible solutions. Executive

decade, Bangladesh has experienced addressed, will undermine its growth Director of BGCCI and the Master of

economic progress with a growth of path and result in causing potential the Ceremony Daniel Seidl opened the

approximately 6% due to increase in harm towards society and the first session. He explained the theme of

investments in various industrial environment. In order to respond to the conference in his opening speech.

sectors mainly attracted by low labour these cha l l eng es, BGCCI , in He briefly reflected on why shareholder

c o s t s . Te x t i l e , a g r i b u s i n e s s , cooperation with its partners, aimed to value is of utmost importance for the

construction and service sectors were foster a better understanding of social sustainability of a business. The

sectors that were the most impacted by responsibility among the participants inauguration speech was given by H.E.

the development. Bangladesh is now of the 3rd Global Social Responsibility Pierre Mayaudon, Ambassador, the

Daniel Seidl, Executive Director, BGCCI; Dr. Shanmuga Sundaram, Managing Director, TUV Rheinland; Dr.

Ferdinand von Weyhe, Charge’d Affaires, Ambassdor, German Embassy; H.E. Gerben de Jong, Ambassador,

Netherlands Embassy; Sakhawat Abu Khair, BGCCI, President; A.B.M. Khorshed Alam, CEO & Additional

Secretary, NSDC Secretariat; Nazma Akter, Executive Director, Awaj Foundation; Amy Yee, independent

Journalist & Contributor for The New York Times; Tuomo Poutiainen, Programme Manager, Ready-Made

Garment Sector, ILO Dhaka;Rob Wayss, Executive Director, The Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building

Safety; Magnus Schmid, Coordinator, PSES, GIZ Bangladesh; Mesbah Rabin, Managing Director, Alliance for

Bangladesh Workers Safety; Abdul Jabbar, MD, DBL group; Olaf Handloegten, Global Initiative on Disaster Risk

Management Head of Management Unit, Security, Reconstruction and Peace


“I trust that among the EU states here in Dhaka, Germany is certainly one of those, which can play a really big role in accompanying Bangladeshi economy on its way towards Modernity. German's strength in vocational training is acknowledged worldwide and can make wonders in this country. For the next 7 years, I'd like to highlight the priority of the EU's investment in skills development, and these with cross-partnership between Europe, in fact Germany and the private sector of Bangladesh, in order to achieve even better growth.”

H.E. Pierre Mayaudon, EU Ambassador in Bangladesh

“Assure our consumers that we are improving the standards, we are cooperating with our workers, we are accepting trade unions, we are reducing waste waters, and we are consuming less energy.

We should promote this, and do this.”

Dr. Ferdinand von Weyhe, Charge d'affaires, German Embassy

“We need more companies who will partner in piloting this so called 'Mini Fire brigade' approach.”

Olaf Handloegten, Global Initiative on Disaster management, Head of Management Unit, Security, reconstruction and Peace

“The and most important development is the change of the mindset of the business people. They now understand that making their business safe is a part of good business model.”

Rob Wayss, Executive Director, The Accord on Fire & Building Safety


“A report states that some 19000 fire doors have been imported of which only 11000 had credible certificates. Similar incidents happened in case of fire extinguishing materials. Factory owners are being misguided and we need to impart proper knowledge about that.”Mesbah Rabin, Alliance for Bangladesh Workers Safety

“Another important things is we need to look beyond the Accord and Alliance; we need to already start inventing for tomorrow to have the right engineering core in place; educate young professionals about the safety and compliance issues.”

Tuomo Poutiainen, Program Manager of Ready Made Garment sector, ILO Dhaka

“Implementing social protection measures is a lengthy process, but the key is to be resilient and maintain a gradualist/incremental approach.”Johanna Knoess, Head of sector project 'System of Social Protection' GIZ

“Skill, knowledge and innovation are driving forces of economic growth and social development globally.”

Magnus Schmid, Coordinator, PSES, GIZ, Dhaka


“I trust that among the EU states here in Dhaka, Germany is certainly one of those, which can play a really big role in accompanying Bangladeshi economy on its way towards Modernity. German's strength in vocational training is acknowledged worldwide and can make wonders in this country. For the next 7 years, I'd like to highlight the priority of the EU's investment in skills development, and these with cross-partnership between Europe, in fact Germany and the private sector of Bangladesh, in order to achieve even better growth.”

H.E. Pierre Mayaudon, EU Ambassador in Bangladesh

“Assure our consumers that we are improving the standards, we are cooperating with our workers, we are accepting trade unions, we are reducing waste waters, and we are consuming less energy.

We should promote this, and do this.”

Dr. Ferdinand von Weyhe, Charge d'affaires, German Embassy

“We need more companies who will partner in piloting this so called 'Mini Fire brigade' approach.”

Olaf Handloegten, Global Initiative on Disaster management, Head of Management Unit, Security, reconstruction and Peace

“The and most important development is the change of the mindset of the business people. They now understand that making their business safe is a part of good business model.”

Rob Wayss, Executive Director, The Accord on Fire & Building Safety


“A report states that some 19000 fire doors have been imported of which only 11000 had credible certificates. Similar incidents happened in case of fire extinguishing materials. Factory owners are being misguided and we need to impart proper knowledge about that.”Mesbah Rabin, Alliance for Bangladesh Workers Safety

“Another important things is we need to look beyond the Accord and Alliance; we need to already start inventing for tomorrow to have the right engineering core in place; educate young professionals about the safety and compliance issues.”

Tuomo Poutiainen, Program Manager of Ready Made Garment sector, ILO Dhaka

“Implementing social protection measures is a lengthy process, but the key is to be resilient and maintain a gradualist/incremental approach.”Johanna Knoess, Head of sector project 'System of Social Protection' GIZ

“Skill, knowledge and innovation are driving forces of economic growth and social development globally.”

Magnus Schmid, Coordinator, PSES, GIZ, Dhaka


Head of Delegation of the European of the GDP. Now it is less than 2 access.

Union to Bangladesh. “Bangladesh percent,” he added. The ambassador BGCCI President Sakhawat Abu Khair

proudly stands on its own two feet. This cited ongoing development activities in his inaugural speech thanked the

is thanks to the hard work,” he said, and said, “it is certainly not even the cooperation partners and sporsors. He

“one could even say to the sacrifice, of country it will be in 10 years from now also thanked BGCCI members for their

millions of men and women.” “It is not if you judge from so many mega relentless support in the form of advice

the country that it was in the eighties- projects in the making”. The EU is the and initiatives. The chamber celebrated

when in ternat iona l ass i s tance largest trade partner of Bangladesh 600 memberships in 2014, a milestone,

contributed for more than 10 percent where all goods enjoy duty-free market he mentioned.


Dr. Ferdinand von Weyhe, Charge de Managing Director and Vice President Keynote presentation from Adnan

affaires of German Embassy in of Alliance; Abdul Jabbar from, MD of Nafis, Head of Trade Promotion, CSR

Bangladesh in his speech discussed DBL Group; Nazma Akter, Executive and Consultancy of BGCCI. The

about the importance of social Director from Awaj Foundation; panelists were Md. Saiful Islam, MD

responsibility for various businesses. A.B.M. Khorshed Alam (CEO Picard Bangladesh Ltd,; Md. Mominul

He said,” I think one business man can (Addit ional Secretar y) , NSDC Ahsan , CEO, Centre of Excellence for

talk to another business man in Secretariat); Tuomo Poutiainen Leather Skill Bangladesh Ltd.); Sabur

promoting social responsibility, (Programme Manager, Ready-Made Ahmed , As s t . P ro f e s so r &

because they speak in the same Garment Sector, ILO Dhaka) Chairman,Department of Leather

language.” According to him, doing participated in the panel. Amy Yee, a Engineering, Institute of Leather;

soc i a l l y and env i ronmenta l l y journalist for The New York Times Engineering & Technology, University

compliance activities like cooperating moderated the panel. The panel of Dhaka; Nabhash Chandra Mandal

with workers, letting them form trade discussed about various problem of the Executive Member & Additional

unions or consuming less energy are sector regarding building inspection Secretary), Registration & Incentives,

one thing; while promoting such news and fire safety and solutions to those Board of Investment; Tariqul Islam

to consumers is another fact of the problems. The representitives from Khan, Chairman, Minikin ltd.; Iftekhar

responsibility. He urged Bangladesh to Accord and Allaince informed the Haider Chowdhury , Industrial

e x c e l i n c a s e o f b o t h t h e session about their ongoing inspection Relations Manager, HR Department,

responsibilities. a c t i v i t i e s a n d i m p r o v m e n t s Bata Shoe Company Bangladesh Ltd.

The first panel was RMG and Fire implemented by factories based on According to the speakers, Bangladesh

Safety Panel. Olaf Handloegten, their recommendatrions. Also, the issue will be able to churn $5 billion from

Global Initiative on Disaster Risk of trade unions was discussed. The exporting leather, leather goods and

Management, Head of Management panel welcomed the trend of rise of footwear in four years, riding on the

Unit, Security, Reconstruction and trade unions, which would eventually back of product diversification and

Peace presented his keynote speech of help establish workers’ right in the value addition. The sector will create

the panel. Rob Wayss, Executive sector. 200,000 jobs in the period. “Everyone

Director, Accord; Mesbah Rabin, The Second Panel started with the is talking about export diversification.


Head of Delegation of the European of the GDP. Now it is less than 2 access.

Union to Bangladesh. “Bangladesh percent,” he added. The ambassador BGCCI President Sakhawat Abu Khair

proudly stands on its own two feet. This cited ongoing development activities in his inaugural speech thanked the

is thanks to the hard work,” he said, and said, “it is certainly not even the cooperation partners and sporsors. He

“one could even say to the sacrifice, of country it will be in 10 years from now also thanked BGCCI members for their

millions of men and women.” “It is not if you judge from so many mega relentless support in the form of advice

the country that it was in the eighties- projects in the making”. The EU is the and initiatives. The chamber celebrated

when in ternat iona l ass i s tance largest trade partner of Bangladesh 600 memberships in 2014, a milestone,

contributed for more than 10 percent where all goods enjoy duty-free market he mentioned.


Dr. Ferdinand von Weyhe, Charge de Managing Director and Vice President Keynote presentation from Adnan

affaires of German Embassy in of Alliance; Abdul Jabbar from, MD of Nafis, Head of Trade Promotion, CSR

Bangladesh in his speech discussed DBL Group; Nazma Akter, Executive and Consultancy of BGCCI. The

about the importance of social Director from Awaj Foundation; panelists were Md. Saiful Islam, MD

responsibility for various businesses. A.B.M. Khorshed Alam (CEO Picard Bangladesh Ltd,; Md. Mominul

He said,” I think one business man can (Addit ional Secretar y) , NSDC Ahsan , CEO, Centre of Excellence for

talk to another business man in Secretariat); Tuomo Poutiainen Leather Skill Bangladesh Ltd.); Sabur

promoting social responsibility, (Programme Manager, Ready-Made Ahmed , As s t . P ro f e s so r &

because they speak in the same Garment Sector, ILO Dhaka) Chairman,Department of Leather

language.” According to him, doing participated in the panel. Amy Yee, a Engineering, Institute of Leather;

soc i a l l y and env i ronmenta l l y journalist for The New York Times Engineering & Technology, University

compliance activities like cooperating moderated the panel. The panel of Dhaka; Nabhash Chandra Mandal

with workers, letting them form trade discussed about various problem of the Executive Member & Additional

unions or consuming less energy are sector regarding building inspection Secretary), Registration & Incentives,

one thing; while promoting such news and fire safety and solutions to those Board of Investment; Tariqul Islam

to consumers is another fact of the problems. The representitives from Khan, Chairman, Minikin ltd.; Iftekhar

responsibility. He urged Bangladesh to Accord and Allaince informed the Haider Chowdhury , Industrial

e x c e l i n c a s e o f b o t h t h e session about their ongoing inspection Relations Manager, HR Department,

responsibilities. a c t i v i t i e s a n d i m p r o v m e n t s Bata Shoe Company Bangladesh Ltd.

The first panel was RMG and Fire implemented by factories based on According to the speakers, Bangladesh

Safety Panel. Olaf Handloegten, their recommendatrions. Also, the issue will be able to churn $5 billion from

Global Initiative on Disaster Risk of trade unions was discussed. The exporting leather, leather goods and

Management, Head of Management panel welcomed the trend of rise of footwear in four years, riding on the

Unit, Security, Reconstruction and trade unions, which would eventually back of product diversification and

Peace presented his keynote speech of help establish workers’ right in the value addition. The sector will create

the panel. Rob Wayss, Executive sector. 200,000 jobs in the period. “Everyone

Director, Accord; Mesbah Rabin, The Second Panel started with the is talking about export diversification.


Leather Industry Panel

• More focus on the skill development has to be given. So that more mid and high end products can be produced beside basic products.

• International participation in different exhibitions has to be done to promote Bangladesh with Government support.

• Leather sector should be given priority like the RMG sector.

• Existing Environmental law have to be strictly enforced. New and strict Environment laws have to be passed and strictly enforced.

• Branding of Bangladesh and the leather sector has to be done to promote this sector.

• Revise the Government incentive initiative to encourage more value addition of products.

• Create awareness of Environment protection and international image of Bangladesh.

• Leather goods and shoes are performing well and have no compliance or environment problem so Government should patronize this sub sector more.

Social protection of Workers Panel

• Industrywide workers' trust can be formed to work with issues pertaining to social protection.

• Need to engage society, NGO and the Government if change is desired

• Need to be context specific in protection measures. Urban children often have worse health indicators than their rural counterparts owing to unplanned development, pollution and sub standard living conditions

• Proper zoning laws (dedicated industrial areas) is important to ensure safety and health.

• Proper legal framework should be formed and workers' injury related issues should be included within the framework.

Environment Panel

• We need to bring in more chemical experts from developed countries, shares ideas with them and make the best your of their experiences.

• We need to change the regulatory system to be more fitting with the need of present day industrial activities.

• We need proper application of economic and fiscal tools the protection of environment.

• We need proper allocation of limited resources to ensure further value addition.

• Proper system of penalization has to be there. Government has to take more stringent steps.

• Brands and retailers should provide incentive to the environmentally compliant factories to motivate them and encourage others to follow their footsteps.

RMG & Fire Safety panel

• Mindset has to be changed more quickly and towards positive outcomes of the factory inspections.

• Getting the easy fixes done on time so that those cannot cause any big accidents.

• Factory owners need to gather more information about firedoor and fire extinguishing ingredients.

• Factories must ensure dedicated fire brigade team with proper training, dress and tools.

• Dedicated generator should be installed in factories to power the fire machineries if there is any fire incident.

• Workers entering into the go-down should be checked if they are carrying any sort of ignition material.

• Subcontracting factories should be brought under radar of authoritative bodies immediately to avoid any future accidents.

• International brands and retailers should come forward to cooperate the factory owners in remediation cases.

Recommendations from the panels


The leather sector will help Bangladesh Mohammed Zahidullah (General Rahman, PhD (Senior Operations

diversify its exports,” said Saiful Islam, Manager, Corporate DBL Group); Officer, Education Global Practice,

also the vice president of Leathergoods Heng Sophannarith (Deputy Director The World Bank); Dr. Abdul Haque

and Footwear Manufacturers and of Health Insurance Division, National Talukder (Chairman, (In Charge)

Exporters Association of Bangladesh. Social Security Fund of Cambodia, Bangladesh Technical Education

The leather sector has the potential to NSSF); Johanna Knoess (Head of Board); Tanzer Siddique, Head of

deliver rapid growth as it has a huge Sector Project “System of Social Membership, BGCCI were among the

supply of hide, competitive cost base, Protection” GIZ, Germany); Juergen panelists. Zafar Sobhan, Editor, Dhaka

huge workforce, tariff-free access, K r e t z ( C o u n t r y C o o r d i n a t o r Tribune moderated the session.

business shifting to Bangladesh from Bangladesh, German Federal Ministry Following the first and second Global

China, and a growing middle class, said for Economic Cooperation and Social Responsibility seminars held in

Adnan Nafis, head of trade promotion Development, BMZ ); Subajini 2010 and 2013 successively, BGCCI

at BGCCI. Jayasekaran (Corporate Socia l and its partners decided to put more

Following the Panel, Farhana von Responsibility Manager, UNICEF). emphasis on promoting the concept of

Mitzlaff, Founder, Meena e.V, an NGO Sarah H. Kraskey, Journalist for The sustainable growth and sharing

for Rana Plaza survivors spoke before New York Times & Al Jazeera practical business examples, which have

the audience. The conference is moderated the session. endorsed environmental friendly

displaying 20 beautiful paintings done The Environment panel shed lights on innovation as the strategy for raising

by the orphans of the Rana Plaza profitable management of water in competitiveness and profits. Moreover,

victims. industries. Dr. Shanmuga Sundaram, the interactions with other key societal

In the second session of the Global Managing Director of TUV Rheinland actors, such as the Government, civil

Social Responsibility Conference 2014, detailed about various hazardous society organizations, academia, media

speakers discussed on social protection chemical used in the RMG industry and and international organizations, bring

issue of workers, waste water how workers' awareness can be the benefit of looking and testing

management due to industrial chemical increased regarding the harmful use of proved experiences in building a green

use and the importance of training up them. David Hasanat from Viyellatex economy for all. H.E. Gerben de Jong,

more workers for higher productivity. shared his success story of saving water Ambassador of the Kingdom of

In panels, namely Social Protection of by recycling ETP water for toiler flush Netherlands extended his felicitations

Workers, Environment and TVET, and rainwater harvesting. Amy Yee to BGCCI and all its sponsors and

these discussions took place. The Social moderated the panel. participations for organizing such an

Protection panel talked about Rana The TVET panel was focused on the important event. The conference was

Plaza victims and their delayed current condition of technical vocation organized by BGCCI in cooperation

compensation issues. Roy Ramesh educational training. The panelists with Deutsche Gesellschaft für

Chandra from IndustriAll detailed discussed about what the government is Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

about the present condition of the offering right at the moment to the GmbH, which works on behalf of the

compensation process and urged that vastly unemployed youth population. Ger man Federa l Minis t r y for

all European and American brands They also shed lights on how private E c o n o m i c C o o p e r a t i o n a n d

should come forward to ensure the sector can come forward to extend help Development (BMZ) with gracious

compensat ion before the 2nd in this regard. Shafquat Haider, sponsorship of the Embassy of the

Anniversary of Rana Plaza disaster. (Chairman, Industry Skills Council Kingdom of Netherlands as the

The panelists also discussed about Information Technology -ICT) ;Paul Platinum Sponsor, German Embassy as

other social benefits workers should Weijers (Team Leader, Skills and the Partner and TUV Rhineland as the

enjoy. The issue of child labor was also Employment Program Bangladesh); Supporting Sponsor.

discussed. The other discussants were Bettina Schmidt, GIZ; Md. Mokhlesur

TVET panel

• To achieve further productivity in the industrial sector, developing a flexible, responsive and market-oriented training system.

• To get rid of the stigma due to cultural bias, proper information about the benefit of TEVT has to be communicated towards the factory owners as well as common mass.

• Mid level managers need to be trained further to brush up their skills in management and work distribution.

• In both RMG and Leather industries, factory owners should take more impetus to develop the skill of their workers.

• Vocational training should be included more prominently in national curriculum.

• Disabled people should be given equal opportunity to receive training.


Leather Industry Panel

• More focus on the skill development has to be given. So that more mid and high end products can be produced beside basic products.

• International participation in different exhibitions has to be done to promote Bangladesh with Government support.

• Leather sector should be given priority like the RMG sector.

• Existing Environmental law have to be strictly enforced. New and strict Environment laws have to be passed and strictly enforced.

• Branding of Bangladesh and the leather sector has to be done to promote this sector.

• Revise the Government incentive initiative to encourage more value addition of products.

• Create awareness of Environment protection and international image of Bangladesh.

• Leather goods and shoes are performing well and have no compliance or environment problem so Government should patronize this sub sector more.

Social protection of Workers Panel

• Industrywide workers' trust can be formed to work with issues pertaining to social protection.

• Need to engage society, NGO and the Government if change is desired

• Need to be context specific in protection measures. Urban children often have worse health indicators than their rural counterparts owing to unplanned development, pollution and sub standard living conditions

• Proper zoning laws (dedicated industrial areas) is important to ensure safety and health.

• Proper legal framework should be formed and workers' injury related issues should be included within the framework.

Environment Panel

• We need to bring in more chemical experts from developed countries, shares ideas with them and make the best your of their experiences.

• We need to change the regulatory system to be more fitting with the need of present day industrial activities.

• We need proper application of economic and fiscal tools the protection of environment.

• We need proper allocation of limited resources to ensure further value addition.

• Proper system of penalization has to be there. Government has to take more stringent steps.

• Brands and retailers should provide incentive to the environmentally compliant factories to motivate them and encourage others to follow their footsteps.

RMG & Fire Safety panel

• Mindset has to be changed more quickly and towards positive outcomes of the factory inspections.

• Getting the easy fixes done on time so that those cannot cause any big accidents.

• Factory owners need to gather more information about firedoor and fire extinguishing ingredients.

• Factories must ensure dedicated fire brigade team with proper training, dress and tools.

• Dedicated generator should be installed in factories to power the fire machineries if there is any fire incident.

• Workers entering into the go-down should be checked if they are carrying any sort of ignition material.

• Subcontracting factories should be brought under radar of authoritative bodies immediately to avoid any future accidents.

• International brands and retailers should come forward to cooperate the factory owners in remediation cases.

Recommendations from the panels


The leather sector will help Bangladesh Mohammed Zahidullah (General Rahman, PhD (Senior Operations

diversify its exports,” said Saiful Islam, Manager, Corporate DBL Group); Officer, Education Global Practice,

also the vice president of Leathergoods Heng Sophannarith (Deputy Director The World Bank); Dr. Abdul Haque

and Footwear Manufacturers and of Health Insurance Division, National Talukder (Chairman, (In Charge)

Exporters Association of Bangladesh. Social Security Fund of Cambodia, Bangladesh Technical Education

The leather sector has the potential to NSSF); Johanna Knoess (Head of Board); Tanzer Siddique, Head of

deliver rapid growth as it has a huge Sector Project “System of Social Membership, BGCCI were among the

supply of hide, competitive cost base, Protection” GIZ, Germany); Juergen panelists. Zafar Sobhan, Editor, Dhaka

huge workforce, tariff-free access, K r e t z ( C o u n t r y C o o r d i n a t o r Tribune moderated the session.

business shifting to Bangladesh from Bangladesh, German Federal Ministry Following the first and second Global

China, and a growing middle class, said for Economic Cooperation and Social Responsibility seminars held in

Adnan Nafis, head of trade promotion Development, BMZ ); Subajini 2010 and 2013 successively, BGCCI

at BGCCI. Jayasekaran (Corporate Socia l and its partners decided to put more

Following the Panel, Farhana von Responsibility Manager, UNICEF). emphasis on promoting the concept of

Mitzlaff, Founder, Meena e.V, an NGO Sarah H. Kraskey, Journalist for The sustainable growth and sharing

for Rana Plaza survivors spoke before New York Times & Al Jazeera practical business examples, which have

the audience. The conference is moderated the session. endorsed environmental friendly

displaying 20 beautiful paintings done The Environment panel shed lights on innovation as the strategy for raising

by the orphans of the Rana Plaza profitable management of water in competitiveness and profits. Moreover,

victims. industries. Dr. Shanmuga Sundaram, the interactions with other key societal

In the second session of the Global Managing Director of TUV Rheinland actors, such as the Government, civil

Social Responsibility Conference 2014, detailed about various hazardous society organizations, academia, media

speakers discussed on social protection chemical used in the RMG industry and and international organizations, bring

issue of workers, waste water how workers' awareness can be the benefit of looking and testing

management due to industrial chemical increased regarding the harmful use of proved experiences in building a green

use and the importance of training up them. David Hasanat from Viyellatex economy for all. H.E. Gerben de Jong,

more workers for higher productivity. shared his success story of saving water Ambassador of the Kingdom of

In panels, namely Social Protection of by recycling ETP water for toiler flush Netherlands extended his felicitations

Workers, Environment and TVET, and rainwater harvesting. Amy Yee to BGCCI and all its sponsors and

these discussions took place. The Social moderated the panel. participations for organizing such an

Protection panel talked about Rana The TVET panel was focused on the important event. The conference was

Plaza victims and their delayed current condition of technical vocation organized by BGCCI in cooperation

compensation issues. Roy Ramesh educational training. The panelists with Deutsche Gesellschaft für

Chandra from IndustriAll detailed discussed about what the government is Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

about the present condition of the offering right at the moment to the GmbH, which works on behalf of the

compensation process and urged that vastly unemployed youth population. Ger man Federa l Minis t r y for

all European and American brands They also shed lights on how private E c o n o m i c C o o p e r a t i o n a n d

should come forward to ensure the sector can come forward to extend help Development (BMZ) with gracious

compensat ion before the 2nd in this regard. Shafquat Haider, sponsorship of the Embassy of the

Anniversary of Rana Plaza disaster. (Chairman, Industry Skills Council Kingdom of Netherlands as the

The panelists also discussed about Information Technology -ICT) ;Paul Platinum Sponsor, German Embassy as

other social benefits workers should Weijers (Team Leader, Skills and the Partner and TUV Rhineland as the

enjoy. The issue of child labor was also Employment Program Bangladesh); Supporting Sponsor.

discussed. The other discussants were Bettina Schmidt, GIZ; Md. Mokhlesur

TVET panel

• To achieve further productivity in the industrial sector, developing a flexible, responsive and market-oriented training system.

• To get rid of the stigma due to cultural bias, proper information about the benefit of TEVT has to be communicated towards the factory owners as well as common mass.

• Mid level managers need to be trained further to brush up their skills in management and work distribution.

• In both RMG and Leather industries, factory owners should take more impetus to develop the skill of their workers.

• Vocational training should be included more prominently in national curriculum.

• Disabled people should be given equal opportunity to receive training.


Anticlockwise from top: Dr. Binayak Sen presenting his keynote speech in the Social Protection of Workers Panel; H.E. Gerben de Jong, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh delivering his concluding speech; Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman from World Bank as a panelist of the TVET Panel; TVET Panel members at the end of the session; Friendship representatives giving their presentations


Clockwise from top: BGCCI President Sakhawat Abu Khair with a fraction of BGCCI Executive Committee and distinguished guests; Leather Industry Panel; Presentation from Meena e.V; Environment Panel; Former BGCCI President & Chief Adviser Md. Saiful Islam with Olaf Handloegten


Anticlockwise from top: Dr. Binayak Sen presenting his keynote speech in the Social Protection of Workers Panel; H.E. Gerben de Jong, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh delivering his concluding speech; Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman from World Bank as a panelist of the TVET Panel; TVET Panel members at the end of the session; Friendship representatives giving their presentations


Clockwise from top: BGCCI President Sakhawat Abu Khair with a fraction of BGCCI Executive Committee and distinguished guests; Leather Industry Panel; Presentation from Meena e.V; Environment Panel; Former BGCCI President & Chief Adviser Md. Saiful Islam with Olaf Handloegten


GSR Media Coverage


GSR Media Coverage


fragmented regulatory framework. If $230.8 billion recorded in 2013. China's a drag on free competition and the

the Draft is passed, it will replace the new foreign-investment act is expected liquidity of capital markets. The Draft

existing set of laws and regulations that to make the country even more Rules will scrap decades old joint

govern the formation and operation of attractive to foreign investors. The venture laws in favor of a modern

foreign-invested enterprises (which Draft Rules, a brainchild of the streamlined system for foreign

includes foreign-invested equity and Shanghai Free Trade Zone is used to cut investment.

cooperative joint ventures as well as excessive red tape. Under the current The rest of the world looked on in

wholly foreign-owned enterprises) in regulatory system, all foreign-invested disbelief, then awe, as the Chinese

China (FIE Laws), some of which have enterprises must obtain pre-approval economy began to take off in the 1980s

been in place for almost 30 years. before making any material changes to at what seemed like lightning speed and

In 2014, China attracted $127.6 billion its capital structure. This regulatory the country positioned itself as a global

in FDI compared with only $86 billion approach, a necessary instrument for economic power. China used its vast

for the U.S.a sharp decline from the the early years of market reform, is now reservoirs of domestic savings to build


FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is foreign investors, it can also play a of the People's Republic of China

generally defined as the process that significant role in the growth dynamics (China) issued a draft Foreign

global investors utilize to acquire of host countries. Investment Law (Draft) for public

ownership of capital and controlling A major change in the regulation of consultation. The content of the Draft

interest in an enterprise in a host foreign investment in China is marks a significant move of MOFCOM

country. Inward FDI not only serves underway. On 19 January 2015, the to relax its regulation on foreign

the long-term financial interests of Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) investment and streamline the current

FDI - What Bangladesh Can Learn

from China and IndiaBy Sifat Ishtiaque Hossain


fragmented regulatory framework. If $230.8 billion recorded in 2013. China's a drag on free competition and the

the Draft is passed, it will replace the new foreign-investment act is expected liquidity of capital markets. The Draft

existing set of laws and regulations that to make the country even more Rules will scrap decades old joint

govern the formation and operation of attractive to foreign investors. The venture laws in favor of a modern

foreign-invested enterprises (which Draft Rules, a brainchild of the streamlined system for foreign

includes foreign-invested equity and Shanghai Free Trade Zone is used to cut investment.

cooperative joint ventures as well as excessive red tape. Under the current The rest of the world looked on in

wholly foreign-owned enterprises) in regulatory system, all foreign-invested disbelief, then awe, as the Chinese

China (FIE Laws), some of which have enterprises must obtain pre-approval economy began to take off in the 1980s

been in place for almost 30 years. before making any material changes to at what seemed like lightning speed and

In 2014, China attracted $127.6 billion its capital structure. This regulatory the country positioned itself as a global

in FDI compared with only $86 billion approach, a necessary instrument for economic power. China used its vast

for the U.S.a sharp decline from the the early years of market reform, is now reservoirs of domestic savings to build


FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is foreign investors, it can also play a of the People's Republic of China

generally defined as the process that significant role in the growth dynamics (China) issued a draft Foreign

global investors utilize to acquire of host countries. Investment Law (Draft) for public

ownership of capital and controlling A major change in the regulation of consultation. The content of the Draft

interest in an enterprise in a host foreign investment in China is marks a significant move of MOFCOM

country. Inward FDI not only serves underway. On 19 January 2015, the to relax its regulation on foreign

the long-term financial interests of Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) investment and streamline the current

FDI - What Bangladesh Can Learn

from China and IndiaBy Sifat Ishtiaque Hossain


an impressive infrastructure and sucked in policymakers must make it a priority to reduce

huge amounts of foreign money to build corruption at all levels of the government and

factories and to acquire the expertise it needed. improve the efficiency of the administration.

India began its economic transformation Bureaucratic red tape must be cut down by

almost a decade after China did but has privatizing and outsourcing many of these

recently grabbed just as much attention, processes, if necessary. In a democracy, there

prompted largely by the number of jobs are always elements in the political spectrum

transferred to it from the West. At the same adamantly opposed to rapid liberalization of

time, the country is rapidly creating world-class the investment climate for foreign investors.

businesses in knowledge-based industries such An educated and skilled labor force is the key

as software, IT services, and pharmaceuticals. to success for attracting foreign investors.

These companies, which emerged with little Therefore, adequate investment in education

government assistance, have helped propel the should become high priority. Private

Indian economy. universities have done well to create some

Many scholars believed that the huge competition for the public institutions that

difference between China and India's FDI has have been hopelessly mired in politics. These

been quite over-estimated. China's potentially educational institutions must be provided

huge domestic market is the major security and to the extent possible, protected

determinant of its inward FDI from OECD from the forces of violence and instability.

countries, while for India, both domestic Bangladesh can learn a valuable lesson from

market and cheap labor cost are important India and China where an important source of

determinants of its inward FDI from OECD FDI has been their expatriate nationals. The

countries. Comparing to India, China's better numbers for India are also impressive, but not

performance in attracting FDI from OECD nearly as large as for China given that the

countries was mainly due to its larger domestic Indian policymakers until 2002 were not

market and higher international trade ties with welcoming of their expatriate citizens. The

OECD countries. India, on the other hand, lesson for Bangladeshi policymakers is to

had advantage in its cheaper labor cost, lower welcome the non-resident Bangladeshi (NRB)

country risk, geographic closeness to OECD citizens, especially those interested in

countries, and cultural similarity. These investment and business opportunities. It is

advantages helped India decrease the gap in clear, therefore, that there are many factors that

FDI. drive the global flows of FDI. This

There are four countries in South Asia information is important for policymakers and

(Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) central banks to devise strategies to promote

that have benefited from high FDI inflows fo r e i gn i nve s tmen t and economic

over the last several decades. However, it development. Given the intense global

appears that Bangladesh faces some significant competition for these investment funds, there

hurdles to achieving its FDI potential. Given is much at stake not only for Bangladesh and

that corruption and bureaucracy are big South Asia, but also for developing countries

hurdles to attracting FDI into Bangladesh, as a whole.

Comparing to India, China's better performance in attracting FDI from

OECD countries was mainly due to its larger domestic market and higher

international trade ties with OECD countries. India, on the other hand,

had advantage in its cheaper labor cost, lower country risk, geographic

closeness to OECD countries, and cultural similarity. These advantages

helped India decrease the gap in FDI.


Emerging Sector

Leather Industry

The Next Big Thing


Export of leather and leather goods from Bangladesh have seen a recent boon! On the other hand, ‘toxic tanneries’ with serious environmental threats and inhuman working conditions appear as bane for the sector. It’s high time Bangladesh chalks out a roadmap to ensure success in this emerging sector in a sustainable way. Adnan Nafis shares his valuable insights.

Adnan Nafis


Emerging Sector

Leather Industry

The Next Big Thing


Export of leather and leather goods from Bangladesh have seen a recent boon! On the other hand, ‘toxic tanneries’ with serious environmental threats and inhuman working conditions appear as bane for the sector. It’s high time Bangladesh chalks out a roadmap to ensure success in this emerging sector in a sustainable way. Adnan Nafis shares his valuable insights.

Adnan Nafis


The export can easily reach $5 Billion by 2021. Among our nearby competitors, Vietnam did it. Their leather export increased from $2.7 billion to $7.3 billion between 2009 –2013. They did it without domestic leather supply.

Bangladesh’s first tannery was set up at Vietnam did it. Their leather export

Narayanganj in 1940s and the mass increased from $2.7 billion to $7.3 billion

production started from 1970s. but the between 2009 –2013. They did it without

boom started from the 1990s and maintained domestic leather supply. The leather sector in

an average growth of 15%. Today there are Bangladesh is made up of three sectors:

3,500 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises hides (finished & semi-finished leather),

& 110 Large firms. More than 8,50,000 footwear and leather goods (bags,

workers are directly and indirectly involved in accessories). Handful of big companies are

this sector. Finally, in 2014 the export dominating the export market with excellent

reached 1.29 billion dollars. The moment compliance and safety reputation Medium

came when both policy makers and investors and small firms are generally serving the

realized that this sector could be the next best domestic market. Bangladesh exports leather

thing for Bangladesh. products mainly to Italy, New Zealand,

The leather sector has the potential to deliver Poland, the UK, Belgium, France, Germany,

rapid growth as it has a huge supply of hide, the US, Canada and Spain. In addition, Japan,

competitive cost base, huge workforce, India, Nepal, Australia and some other

tariff-free access, business shifting to countries are emerging as potential

Bangladesh from China, and a growing importers of Bangladeshi leather goods.

middle class. Interestingly Bangladesh has Recently, I conducted a study on leather

the 4th largest goat livestock. sector in partnership with Ian Green from

The export can easily reach $5 Billion by BGTIC GmBh where more details are

2021. Among our nearby competitors, available.

E


PERSON OF INTEREST

Export of leather has been rapidly growing in the last five years and the data proves it.

Export Growth (Last 5 years)

Year Actual (Mn USD) % growth

2009-10 459.25 20.49

2010-11 651.05 29.46

2011-12 765.03 17.51

2012-13 980.67 28.19

2013-14 1295.74 32.12


The export can easily reach $5 Billion by 2021. Among our nearby competitors, Vietnam did it. Their leather export increased from $2.7 billion to $7.3 billion between 2009 –2013. They did it without domestic leather supply.

Bangladesh’s first tannery was set up at Vietnam did it. Their leather export

Narayanganj in 1940s and the mass increased from $2.7 billion to $7.3 billion

production started from 1970s. but the between 2009 –2013. They did it without

boom started from the 1990s and maintained domestic leather supply. The leather sector in

an average growth of 15%. Today there are Bangladesh is made up of three sectors:

3,500 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises hides (finished & semi-finished leather),

& 110 Large firms. More than 8,50,000 footwear and leather goods (bags,

workers are directly and indirectly involved in accessories). Handful of big companies are

this sector. Finally, in 2014 the export dominating the export market with excellent

reached 1.29 billion dollars. The moment compliance and safety reputation Medium

came when both policy makers and investors and small firms are generally serving the

realized that this sector could be the next best domestic market. Bangladesh exports leather

thing for Bangladesh. products mainly to Italy, New Zealand,

The leather sector has the potential to deliver Poland, the UK, Belgium, France, Germany,

rapid growth as it has a huge supply of hide, the US, Canada and Spain. In addition, Japan,

competitive cost base, huge workforce, India, Nepal, Australia and some other

tariff-free access, business shifting to countries are emerging as potential

Bangladesh from China, and a growing importers of Bangladeshi leather goods.

middle class. Interestingly Bangladesh has Recently, I conducted a study on leather

the 4th largest goat livestock. sector in partnership with Ian Green from

The export can easily reach $5 Billion by BGTIC GmBh where more details are

2021. Among our nearby competitors, available.

E


PERSON OF INTEREST

Export of leather has been rapidly growing in the last five years and the data proves it.

Export Growth (Last 5 years)

Year Actual (Mn USD) % growth

2009-10 459.25 20.49

2010-11 651.05 29.46

2011-12 765.03 17.51

2012-13 980.67 28.19

2013-14 1295.74 32.12


relocation to Savar but now the

Government has to be strict and

enforce existing laws to punish the

violators. It is unfortunate that the

private sector is demanding more

compensation for relocating where

as they are violating existing

environmental laws by endangering

the people and the environment.

The government has provided the

land and the initial compensation

now if factory owners do not avail

that benefit, they should be

prosecuted as per the law of the

land. Investing and implementing

environmental safeguards now will

save Bangladesh from a greater

future expense. We have to learn

f rom Ch ina . In 2010 , the

environmental damage in china was

worth $230 billion and 3.5% of

GDP was spent to clean up

e n v i r o n m e n t . C h i n a i s

implementing strict enforcement of

environment laws; like in 2014, six

Chinese companies have been fined

$26 million for discharging tens of

thousands of tonnes of waste

chemicals into rivers. Time has come

to be strict because we cannot just

accept environmental damage for

the sake of short-term growth.

The author is the Head of Trade

Promotion, CSR and Consultation

Services, BGCCI and can be reached at

[email protected]

Leather Industry in Bangladesh: Meaningful Metrics

Produces 2% - 3% of world’s leather market

About 95% of leather and leather products are marketed abroad

Leather and leather related products constitutes: 4.29% of total Bangladesh export and 0.56% of global leather and related products market of USD 230 billion

Value addition in this exports averages 85%

Total foreign companies in Bangladesh footwear and leather goods: 50

Foreign investment: USD 210 million

Local employment due to foreign investment: 30,342


The export trend has lucrative growth and the residents and workers. Extreme social

has attracted the attention of foreign and environmental compliance failures,

investors (Picard, Bata and other Chinese gender discrimination, child labor,

investors) and local entrepreneurs (Apex, violation of labor safety and lack of waste

Bay Shoes, Jenny Shoes etc.) to setup the management are the high light of the

state of the art facilities in Bangladesh. tannery industry of Bangladesh. Because

Before we did not have any ISO certified of the tannery sector other segments of

laboratory for testing and samples had to the leather sector like leather shoe and

be sent abroad for testing. Now we have goods manufacturers are facing image

one of the state of the art leather and crisis and hurdles to increase export. To

footwear testing facilities in Bangladesh avoid compliance issues, Bangladesh also

set up by Intertek, a leading quality imports significant amount leather: $74m

solut ions provider to industr ies (2013-14) to meet the demand of export

worldwide,. need. So improving the capacity of local

Interestingly, in the first seven months of manufacturers can also bring an import-

FY 2014-15, export grew by 40% but hide substitution benefit for Bangladesh. A

export declined a bit. The overall export handful of large manufacturers dominate

growth of Leather shoes and goods is the export market with great reputation.

increasing rapidly but export of hide is Bangladeshi exporters need to attend

declining (especially in FY 2014-15) due to international exhibitions and fairs to

compliance issue. Hazaribag, the tannery promote them selves and Bangladesh.

hub of Bangladesh is considered one of Lack of interest is harming the rapid

the ten most polluted places on Earth by expansion of the sector. A mindset of the

Time Magazine. Most of the tannery entrepreneurs is needed, the government

dumps the untreated chemicals and can not always assist the private sector, the

residues in the open water source and the private sector has to step up and take

river Buriganga. The tannery industry is responsibility. The Government of

undermining this promising sector as it has Bangladesh has taken steps to promote the

attracted international condemnation for leather sector and allocated land and

environment pollution and endangering compensation fund for the tannery

Because of the tannery

sector other segments

of the leather sector

like leather shoe and

goods manufacturers

are facing image crisis

and hurdles to increase

export. For this, a

change of mindset is

needed for the

entrepreneurs.


relocation to Savar but now the

Government has to be strict and

enforce existing laws to punish the

violators. It is unfortunate that the

private sector is demanding more

compensation for relocating where

as they are violating existing

environmental laws by endangering

the people and the environment.

The government has provided the

land and the initial compensation

now if factory owners do not avail

that benefit, they should be

prosecuted as per the law of the

land. Investing and implementing

environmental safeguards now will

save Bangladesh from a greater

future expense. We have to learn

f rom Ch ina . In 2010 , the

environmental damage in china was

worth $230 billion and 3.5% of

GDP was spent to clean up

e n v i r o n m e n t . C h i n a i s

implementing strict enforcement of

environment laws; like in 2014, six

Chinese companies have been fined

$26 million for discharging tens of

thousands of tonnes of waste

chemicals into rivers. Time has come

to be strict because we cannot just

accept environmental damage for

the sake of short-term growth.

The author is the Head of Trade

Promotion, CSR and Consultation

Services, BGCCI and can be reached at

[email protected]

Leather Industry in Bangladesh: Meaningful Metrics

Produces 2% - 3% of world’s leather market

About 95% of leather and leather products are marketed abroad

Leather and leather related products constitutes: 4.29% of total Bangladesh export and 0.56% of global leather and related products market of USD 230 billion

Value addition in this exports averages 85%

Total foreign companies in Bangladesh footwear and leather goods: 50

Foreign investment: USD 210 million

Local employment due to foreign investment: 30,342


The export trend has lucrative growth and the residents and workers. Extreme social

has attracted the attention of foreign and environmental compliance failures,

investors (Picard, Bata and other Chinese gender discrimination, child labor,

investors) and local entrepreneurs (Apex, violation of labor safety and lack of waste

Bay Shoes, Jenny Shoes etc.) to setup the management are the high light of the

state of the art facilities in Bangladesh. tannery industry of Bangladesh. Because

Before we did not have any ISO certified of the tannery sector other segments of

laboratory for testing and samples had to the leather sector like leather shoe and

be sent abroad for testing. Now we have goods manufacturers are facing image

one of the state of the art leather and crisis and hurdles to increase export. To

footwear testing facilities in Bangladesh avoid compliance issues, Bangladesh also

set up by Intertek, a leading quality imports significant amount leather: $74m

solut ions provider to industr ies (2013-14) to meet the demand of export

worldwide,. need. So improving the capacity of local

Interestingly, in the first seven months of manufacturers can also bring an import-

FY 2014-15, export grew by 40% but hide substitution benefit for Bangladesh. A

export declined a bit. The overall export handful of large manufacturers dominate

growth of Leather shoes and goods is the export market with great reputation.

increasing rapidly but export of hide is Bangladeshi exporters need to attend

declining (especially in FY 2014-15) due to international exhibitions and fairs to

compliance issue. Hazaribag, the tannery promote them selves and Bangladesh.

hub of Bangladesh is considered one of Lack of interest is harming the rapid

the ten most polluted places on Earth by expansion of the sector. A mindset of the

Time Magazine. Most of the tannery entrepreneurs is needed, the government

dumps the untreated chemicals and can not always assist the private sector, the

residues in the open water source and the private sector has to step up and take

river Buriganga. The tannery industry is responsibility. The Government of

undermining this promising sector as it has Bangladesh has taken steps to promote the

attracted international condemnation for leather sector and allocated land and

environment pollution and endangering compensation fund for the tannery

Because of the tannery

sector other segments

of the leather sector

like leather shoe and

goods manufacturers

are facing image crisis

and hurdles to increase

export. For this, a

change of mindset is

needed for the

entrepreneurs.


EXPORT DIVERSIFICATION


Export earnings of Bangladesh have grown Now, in 2015, almost the whole export pie

about 85 times in the past 30 years. The is occupied by RMG while other sectors

once $0.3 billion segment, over the years, represent a meager 16% of total earnings.

has steadily grown to a strong $27 billion The risk associated with such over-

segment, which represents roughly 16% of dependence on a single category was

our GDP. But once looked into the proven in black and white when export

constituents of our export earnings, took a hit this year owing to the flat growth

Bangladesh is guilty of having a very in RMG exports. That is when the concept

narrow export base. And the alarming fact of ‘Export Diversification’ received fresh

is that our dependence on a single segment attention from all relevant stakeholders.

has grown even more in recent years. 30 While the importance of export

years back, the biggest share of the export diversification can be seen in plain sight,

pie belonged to Jute and Jute goods that how we can actually diversify our exports

contributed 54% of the total earnings. remain the bigger question.

The way forward to export diversification.

By Sabrina Afroz Erina


Broadening the export base- Sectors that are to develop industry-based export including our neighboring India. The

poised to grow incentives and tariff structure that will bottlenecks that repel foreign investors If we look into the cases of our Asian facilitate budding industries. Apart from Bangladesh such as: political peer economies that have been from developing packages, awareness instabi l i ty and infras t r uctura l successful in terms of product n e e d s t o b e r a i s e d a m o n g deficiency need to be addressed diversification, few trends can be found entrepreneurs about the existence of immediately. By developing diplomatic common. At the initial stage, primary such funds. The government should relationship with our regional products (most ly ag r icultura l ) also take steps to provide incentives counterparts, we can achieve dual accounted for a major share of export comparable to our neighboring benefit in terms of export market and earnings. As the economies evolved, countries. A major policy focus should

export basket diversification. exports diversified into labor-intensive be laid on ensuring that our

manufactured products. Later, with entrepreneurs can avail raw material at Skill Development

g r e a t e r p o l i c y s u p p o r t a n d internationally competitive rate which Poor quality of our labor is gradually

t e c h n o l o g i c a l a d v a n c e m e n t , we often fail to materialize. receiving attention in the international composition of manufactured items arena. While we still hold edge in terms gradually shifted toward technology- Low Cost capital:of labor cost, how long we can leverage intensive higher value added products. Despite the increasing pressure from that advantage remains uncertain. Bangladesh is still in the middle stage, the Government and the Central Bank High-skilled human resource will be a where our cheap, low-skilled labor puts to provide low-cost financing to SME deciding factor of our transition into a us in an advantageous position over our owners, the actual small entrepreneurs middle income country. On top of that, competitors. There are a lot of are deprived of such funds due to we cannot sustain foreign investment if industries we can diversify into Financial Institutions’ preference

our labor force is not competitive leveraging this existing comparative towards medium sized businesses.

advantage. Agriculture still accounts Supplying low cost capital to small enough. Quality education and training for significant portion of overall entrepreneurs should be made a remain crucial to brush up the skill set employment and this labor force can be priority for the banking institutions. As of our labor base. utilized to spur the growth of labor- credibility issue is one of the major

intensive agro-processing industries underlying reasons behind non- Broadening our export base is crucial to such as: production of frozen fish and availabil ity of fund for small lay the future path of our economic processed foods. Pharmaceuticals entrepreneurs, enhancing the post deve lopment . Wi th inc reased sector has posted commendable loan-disbursement monitoring system patronization from government, growth in recent years that can be a t b a n k s c a n e n s u r e s m a l l

policymakers and relevant stakeholders, accelerated further until the expiry of entrepreneurs’ access to capital.

our emerging sectors too can show TRIPS. Bangladeshi footwear has

impressive growth trend. Since export already found its place in many globally Foreign Cooperation:

growth has a very high correlation to renowned retail chains. With sound Increased cooperation and technology

overall economic growth, failure to po l i cy suppor t and a s t ab l e transfers from our regional partners broaden our export base will be very macroeconomic environment, these will be essential to ensure sustainable detrimental to our economy. It is the industries have the potential to be the growth of emerging industries. In the coherent effort of all the stakeholders next RMG of Bangladesh. early 80s, technology transfer from that helped us conquer the non-Reaching the goal- Tools needed to Korean firms initiated the high growth traditional export arena 30 years back. diversify export base momentum of RMG industries. In We strongly believe such united effort Export Incentive Package: recent years, increasing foreign can enable us to diversify our export To increase the effectiveness of export investment has facilitated the export

basket successfully this time. incentive packages, Government needs sectors of many Asian countries

Reaching the goal- Tools needed to diversify export base


EXPORT DIVERSIFICATION


Export earnings of Bangladesh have grown Now, in 2015, almost the whole export pie

about 85 times in the past 30 years. The is occupied by RMG while other sectors

once $0.3 billion segment, over the years, represent a meager 16% of total earnings.

has steadily grown to a strong $27 billion The risk associated with such over-

segment, which represents roughly 16% of dependence on a single category was

our GDP. But once looked into the proven in black and white when export

constituents of our export earnings, took a hit this year owing to the flat growth

Bangladesh is guilty of having a very in RMG exports. That is when the concept

narrow export base. And the alarming fact of ‘Export Diversification’ received fresh

is that our dependence on a single segment attention from all relevant stakeholders.

has grown even more in recent years. 30 While the importance of export

years back, the biggest share of the export diversification can be seen in plain sight,

pie belonged to Jute and Jute goods that how we can actually diversify our exports

contributed 54% of the total earnings. remain the bigger question.

The way forward to export diversification.

By Sabrina Afroz Erina


Broadening the export base- Sectors that are to develop industry-based export including our neighboring India. The

poised to grow incentives and tariff structure that will bottlenecks that repel foreign investors If we look into the cases of our Asian facilitate budding industries. Apart from Bangladesh such as: political peer economies that have been from developing packages, awareness instabi l i ty and infras t r uctura l successful in terms of product n e e d s t o b e r a i s e d a m o n g deficiency need to be addressed diversification, few trends can be found entrepreneurs about the existence of immediately. By developing diplomatic common. At the initial stage, primary such funds. The government should relationship with our regional products (most ly ag r icultura l ) also take steps to provide incentives counterparts, we can achieve dual accounted for a major share of export comparable to our neighboring benefit in terms of export market and earnings. As the economies evolved, countries. A major policy focus should

export basket diversification. exports diversified into labor-intensive be laid on ensuring that our

manufactured products. Later, with entrepreneurs can avail raw material at Skill Development

g r e a t e r p o l i c y s u p p o r t a n d internationally competitive rate which Poor quality of our labor is gradually

t e c h n o l o g i c a l a d v a n c e m e n t , we often fail to materialize. receiving attention in the international composition of manufactured items arena. While we still hold edge in terms gradually shifted toward technology- Low Cost capital:of labor cost, how long we can leverage intensive higher value added products. Despite the increasing pressure from that advantage remains uncertain. Bangladesh is still in the middle stage, the Government and the Central Bank High-skilled human resource will be a where our cheap, low-skilled labor puts to provide low-cost financing to SME deciding factor of our transition into a us in an advantageous position over our owners, the actual small entrepreneurs middle income country. On top of that, competitors. There are a lot of are deprived of such funds due to we cannot sustain foreign investment if industries we can diversify into Financial Institutions’ preference

our labor force is not competitive leveraging this existing comparative towards medium sized businesses.

advantage. Agriculture still accounts Supplying low cost capital to small enough. Quality education and training for significant portion of overall entrepreneurs should be made a remain crucial to brush up the skill set employment and this labor force can be priority for the banking institutions. As of our labor base. utilized to spur the growth of labor- credibility issue is one of the major

intensive agro-processing industries underlying reasons behind non- Broadening our export base is crucial to such as: production of frozen fish and availabil ity of fund for small lay the future path of our economic processed foods. Pharmaceuticals entrepreneurs, enhancing the post deve lopment . Wi th inc reased sector has posted commendable loan-disbursement monitoring system patronization from government, growth in recent years that can be a t b a n k s c a n e n s u r e s m a l l

policymakers and relevant stakeholders, accelerated further until the expiry of entrepreneurs’ access to capital.

our emerging sectors too can show TRIPS. Bangladeshi footwear has

impressive growth trend. Since export already found its place in many globally Foreign Cooperation:

growth has a very high correlation to renowned retail chains. With sound Increased cooperation and technology

overall economic growth, failure to po l i cy suppor t and a s t ab l e transfers from our regional partners broaden our export base will be very macroeconomic environment, these will be essential to ensure sustainable detrimental to our economy. It is the industries have the potential to be the growth of emerging industries. In the coherent effort of all the stakeholders next RMG of Bangladesh. early 80s, technology transfer from that helped us conquer the non-Reaching the goal- Tools needed to Korean firms initiated the high growth traditional export arena 30 years back. diversify export base momentum of RMG industries. In We strongly believe such united effort Export Incentive Package: recent years, increasing foreign can enable us to diversify our export To increase the effectiveness of export investment has facilitated the export

basket successfully this time. incentive packages, Government needs sectors of many Asian countries

Reaching the goal- Tools needed to diversify export base


HEALTH INSURANCE

Non-Profit Health Insurance for RMG Sector

Workers: Concurrent ly Advanc ing

Productivity, Social Responsibility and Health

The ready-made garment (RMG) sector is the backbone of economic

development in Bangladesh. With exports worth $24.5 billion in FY 2013-2014,

the sector contributed more than 81% of all exports from Bangladesh and

currently employs around 4.2 million workers (around two thirds of all formal

sector employees). All in all, it can be assumed that more than 16 million or 10%

of the total population directly depend on the RMG sector, with many more

indirectly dependent.

In the current state, productivity in the garment sector is not yet maximized due

to the extremely high worker turnover in the industry and absence due to illness.

Different factory managers mentioned that as many as 5% of workers leave their

factories each month for different reasons. While the majority of workers on the

factory floor are skilled in the RMG sector already, this turnover results in a

tremendous waste of resources if one calculates investments needed for factory

AStitchinTime


specific trainings and in-factory culture falls under the bilateral development empaneled health facility of their

adaptation. Some of those leaving the cooperation initiative with the Ministry choice, with coverage including

factories do so involuntarily: because of Health and Family Welfare and is in diagnostic services and medication.

they fall ill. In Bangladesh getting sick is line with the endorsed Healthcare The insurance premium payable is

very unpleasant even for higher- Financing Strategy 2012-2032. It is envisioned to be a proportion of salary

income earners because the health care envisioned that this scheme will be with a 50-50 split between the employee

system needs improvement in regards launched into the market by mid-2015 and employer.

to provision of quality healthcare to the and would be self-sustained when the By enrolment into this scheme, it is

sick without them enduring financial German Government support to the intended that the workers and their

hardship. Much of the necessary Bangladesh health sector ends in 2016. family members would no longer be

improvements are rooted in the way the By pooling a small amount of hindered by the barriers of finance and

health system is financed. Workers contributions monthly, employees quality when trying to seek healthcare.

falling ill frequently will result in a loss along with up to 3 family members Such a strong incentive would almost

of income for the factory, due to participating in the scheme will be able ensure employee loyalty thereby

forgone production output. to avail quality healthcare from reducing the turnover rates. All these

In order to improve the situation, accredited health facilities without would contribute towards productivity

BRAC with support from the German enduring financial hardship at the time of the business and also has a high

Government through GIZ - is when healthcare is needed. The chance of increasing business

currently developing a 'proof of concept' cashless system allows for those profitability in the long run.

for a health insurance scheme for protected under the insurance scheme

formal sector workers. This support to enjoy healthcare services at the

Much of the necessary improvements are rooted in the way the health

system is financed. Workers falling ill frequently will result in a loss of

income for the factory, due to forgone production output.


HEALTH INSURANCE

Non-Profit Health Insurance for RMG Sector

Workers: Concurrent ly Advanc ing

Productivity, Social Responsibility and Health

The ready-made garment (RMG) sector is the backbone of economic

development in Bangladesh. With exports worth $24.5 billion in FY 2013-2014,

the sector contributed more than 81% of all exports from Bangladesh and

currently employs around 4.2 million workers (around two thirds of all formal

sector employees). All in all, it can be assumed that more than 16 million or 10%

of the total population directly depend on the RMG sector, with many more

indirectly dependent.

In the current state, productivity in the garment sector is not yet maximized due

to the extremely high worker turnover in the industry and absence due to illness.

Different factory managers mentioned that as many as 5% of workers leave their

factories each month for different reasons. While the majority of workers on the

factory floor are skilled in the RMG sector already, this turnover results in a

tremendous waste of resources if one calculates investments needed for factory

AStitchinTime


specific trainings and in-factory culture falls under the bilateral development empaneled health facility of their

adaptation. Some of those leaving the cooperation initiative with the Ministry choice, with coverage including

factories do so involuntarily: because of Health and Family Welfare and is in diagnostic services and medication.

they fall ill. In Bangladesh getting sick is line with the endorsed Healthcare The insurance premium payable is

very unpleasant even for higher- Financing Strategy 2012-2032. It is envisioned to be a proportion of salary

income earners because the health care envisioned that this scheme will be with a 50-50 split between the employee

system needs improvement in regards launched into the market by mid-2015 and employer.

to provision of quality healthcare to the and would be self-sustained when the By enrolment into this scheme, it is

sick without them enduring financial German Government support to the intended that the workers and their

hardship. Much of the necessary Bangladesh health sector ends in 2016. family members would no longer be

improvements are rooted in the way the By pooling a small amount of hindered by the barriers of finance and

health system is financed. Workers contributions monthly, employees quality when trying to seek healthcare.

falling ill frequently will result in a loss along with up to 3 family members Such a strong incentive would almost

of income for the factory, due to participating in the scheme will be able ensure employee loyalty thereby

forgone production output. to avail quality healthcare from reducing the turnover rates. All these

In order to improve the situation, accredited health facilities without would contribute towards productivity

BRAC with support from the German enduring financial hardship at the time of the business and also has a high

Government through GIZ - is when healthcare is needed. The chance of increasing business

currently developing a 'proof of concept' cashless system allows for those profitability in the long run.

for a health insurance scheme for protected under the insurance scheme

formal sector workers. This support to enjoy healthcare services at the

Much of the necessary improvements are rooted in the way the health

system is financed. Workers falling ill frequently will result in a loss of

income for the factory, due to forgone production output.


FEATURE

It can go so quickly: yesterday the the purchasing power of the G-7- for moving targets by now“, states

world’s poorhouse and today a giant of countries USA, Germany, England, Norbert Winkeljohann, spokesman

growth and tomorrow probably one of France, Italy, Canada and Japan by the from PwC Deutschland. „New

the world leading economic nations. year 2030. consumers and markets are developing

Bangladesh is the example to Already this year China will supersede in a very different way – and quicker

comprehend, in which rapid speed a USA as the world’s leading economic than ever before. It is becoming harder

country can develop from an nation. Also in 2015 the Asia-pacific- for companies to shot into the varied

agricultural based economy to a area will have a numerically larger markets and numerous emerging

gigantic future market. 30 years ago middle class than Europe and the USA competitors.“ More than half of the

mass starvation made Bangladesh the together. The growing middle class of surveyed CEOs expressed concern

symbol for food shortage in developing the emerging markets will represent an about the changes in the behaviour and

countries around the globe. „Today the annual market of six trillion US-Dollars expenditures of consumers. And also

country is importing tea and exporting in the year 2021, as PwC-analysis more than half are getting cold feet

rice itself“, states Daniel Seidl, estimate. Landmarks and trends of this from the competitors of the future-

Executive director of the Bangladesh- kind are stating clearly: The traditional economies.

German Chamber of Commerce and ways of evaluation of national The ongoing realignment of the global

Industry, who is active since 20 years in economies are becoming more and e c o n o m i c p o w e r s h a s a l s o

the country. „5 years ago there was not a more extraneous. consequences for the strategic planning

single Coffee-Shop here, but nowadays The world comprising change of the of future infrastructure investments.

you can get a latte macchiato in all guard is accompanied by growing T he annua l expend i tures for

possible variations on every corner.“ imbalances within those groupings. So infrastructure will double form four

The eight biggest population on earth within the G7 group, the economy of trillion US-Dollars in 2012 to more than

stands on an area twice as big as Bavaria Italy is not growing anymore since the nine trillion USD in the year 2025 says a

- with a density of 85 millions of mobile year 2000 and in the Europe area in the PwC report. Aggregated the world

phones, which is like mutated and that same time a number of 7 million jobs expenditures will be 78 trillion Dollar

as well in the last five years. Every have been lost. In the same time in the between 2014 and 2025 – an enormous

month two million new mobile phones group of the E-7-countries, the potential for growth willing companies.

are joining. economic power of China has tripled, Solely the Asia-pacific region – driven

Not only has the example of whereas Mexico has only grown by 1/3 by China’s growth – will combine

Bangladesh demonstrated: The world and the growth rates of emerging almost 60 percent on itself. In contrast

economy is on the threshold of a shift markets like Vietnam and Indonesia will the amount of western Europe will

of power. Europe is showing signs of reach soon those of India. halven itself to less than ten percent.

weakness, Asia is catching up and Africa The extreme economic shifts between „These global distortions are not just

is on the hop. According to the latest countries and regions will lead to unique because of their sheer scale, but

actual economic projections, the momentous changes of consumption also because of the extreme high speed,

purchasing power of the E-7-countries patterns. Additionally the challenges for with which they take place“ emphasizes

Brazil, Russia, India, China, Indonesia, successful business are globally Norbert Winkeljohann. „It is beyond all

Turkey und Mexico will out-compete aggravating. „Enterprises are hunting question, that within one decade the

The Fantastic Seven

G-7 and E-7 are the past and present – the future belongs to the

F-7-countries, the Future Seven. The long-term growth

predictions look dreamlike for those states. It’s high time for

entrepreneurs to take a closer look at those markets.

The German version of this article first appeared in the Newsletter of PricewaterhouseCoopers, a renowned international professional service network.


economical world map will look migrate from poverty into the middle 16 in the ranking and by that climb up

essentially different than nowadays.“ class.“ 27 positions. Peru will probably climb

To understand, how this new map Companies should especially keep a up from position 46 to 26. According to

could look like, it needs a completely close eye on a group of future growing prognoses the Philippines will have an

new viewpoint on the development of markets: the so called future-7- annual growth rate of 7 percent on

the world economy. countries (F7): Bangladesh, Columbia, average in the years until 2050 and

These deve lopments are a l so Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines Peru’s growth rate will be 5.5 percent.

confirmed by the Organization for and Vietnam. The fantastic Seven as Possibly as much people as in the USA

E c o n o m i c C o o p e r a t i o n a n d well as other emerging market countries could populate Nigeria by the year

Development (OECD). „If the latest will constantly challenge the developed 2050. Columbia is developing with

trends like demographical evolution, G-7-national economies, especially in annual growth rates around 4.5 percent

knowlegde based technological change, terms of production of durable to the gateway of the Caribbean,

globalization and growing pressure on product ion goods. Long-ter m Morocco is the new springboard for

the environment will pursue, then it will prognoses for those countries sound European companies to the fast

have tremendous effect on the world dreamlike: Additionally, an almost growing markets of Western Africa.

economy“, states the economical exploding pool of well-educated and And Vietnam is just taking over China

department of OECD in their latest motivated talents wings the growth of as location for inexpensive, personnel

repor t „Shift ing Gear : Pol icy those countries. And not only this: intense manufacturing.

Challenges for the next 50 years“. Many of them will lead new Norbert Winkeljohann: „It’s high time

Within the next 50 years, as the authors multinational companies into the for CEOs und proprietors to see the

note, the world economic growth will future. The countries themselves will world with different eyes than five years

decrease from 3.6 percent until 2020 develop themselves to huge sales ago. Growth potential is emerging in

towards 2.4 percent until 2050/2060. markets as well. markets, which were not targeted

„However the salary structure in the According to a HSBC-Bank report, before in the plans of the strategic

emerging markets with low salaries will countries like the Philippines and Peru department.“ So it is high time, to

grow more dynamically – with a more will climb noticeably in the ranking of canvas those countries thoroughly.

than sevenfold growing GDP per the biggest national economies. The

capita. Therefore masses of people will Philippines should locate on position


FEATURE

It can go so quickly: yesterday the the purchasing power of the G-7- for moving targets by now“, states

world’s poorhouse and today a giant of countries USA, Germany, England, Norbert Winkeljohann, spokesman

growth and tomorrow probably one of France, Italy, Canada and Japan by the from PwC Deutschland. „New

the world leading economic nations. year 2030. consumers and markets are developing

Bangladesh is the example to Already this year China will supersede in a very different way – and quicker

comprehend, in which rapid speed a USA as the world’s leading economic than ever before. It is becoming harder

country can develop from an nation. Also in 2015 the Asia-pacific- for companies to shot into the varied

agricultural based economy to a area will have a numerically larger markets and numerous emerging

gigantic future market. 30 years ago middle class than Europe and the USA competitors.“ More than half of the

mass starvation made Bangladesh the together. The growing middle class of surveyed CEOs expressed concern

symbol for food shortage in developing the emerging markets will represent an about the changes in the behaviour and

countries around the globe. „Today the annual market of six trillion US-Dollars expenditures of consumers. And also

country is importing tea and exporting in the year 2021, as PwC-analysis more than half are getting cold feet

rice itself“, states Daniel Seidl, estimate. Landmarks and trends of this from the competitors of the future-

Executive director of the Bangladesh- kind are stating clearly: The traditional economies.

German Chamber of Commerce and ways of evaluation of national The ongoing realignment of the global

Industry, who is active since 20 years in economies are becoming more and e c o n o m i c p o w e r s h a s a l s o

the country. „5 years ago there was not a more extraneous. consequences for the strategic planning

single Coffee-Shop here, but nowadays The world comprising change of the of future infrastructure investments.

you can get a latte macchiato in all guard is accompanied by growing T he annua l expend i tures for

possible variations on every corner.“ imbalances within those groupings. So infrastructure will double form four

The eight biggest population on earth within the G7 group, the economy of trillion US-Dollars in 2012 to more than

stands on an area twice as big as Bavaria Italy is not growing anymore since the nine trillion USD in the year 2025 says a

- with a density of 85 millions of mobile year 2000 and in the Europe area in the PwC report. Aggregated the world

phones, which is like mutated and that same time a number of 7 million jobs expenditures will be 78 trillion Dollar

as well in the last five years. Every have been lost. In the same time in the between 2014 and 2025 – an enormous

month two million new mobile phones group of the E-7-countries, the potential for growth willing companies.

are joining. economic power of China has tripled, Solely the Asia-pacific region – driven

Not only has the example of whereas Mexico has only grown by 1/3 by China’s growth – will combine

Bangladesh demonstrated: The world and the growth rates of emerging almost 60 percent on itself. In contrast

economy is on the threshold of a shift markets like Vietnam and Indonesia will the amount of western Europe will

of power. Europe is showing signs of reach soon those of India. halven itself to less than ten percent.

weakness, Asia is catching up and Africa The extreme economic shifts between „These global distortions are not just

is on the hop. According to the latest countries and regions will lead to unique because of their sheer scale, but

actual economic projections, the momentous changes of consumption also because of the extreme high speed,

purchasing power of the E-7-countries patterns. Additionally the challenges for with which they take place“ emphasizes

Brazil, Russia, India, China, Indonesia, successful business are globally Norbert Winkeljohann. „It is beyond all

Turkey und Mexico will out-compete aggravating. „Enterprises are hunting question, that within one decade the

The Fantastic Seven

G-7 and E-7 are the past and present – the future belongs to the

F-7-countries, the Future Seven. The long-term growth

predictions look dreamlike for those states. It’s high time for

entrepreneurs to take a closer look at those markets.

The German version of this article first appeared in the Newsletter of PricewaterhouseCoopers, a renowned international professional service network.


economical world map will look migrate from poverty into the middle 16 in the ranking and by that climb up

essentially different than nowadays.“ class.“ 27 positions. Peru will probably climb

To understand, how this new map Companies should especially keep a up from position 46 to 26. According to

could look like, it needs a completely close eye on a group of future growing prognoses the Philippines will have an

new viewpoint on the development of markets: the so called future-7- annual growth rate of 7 percent on

the world economy. countries (F7): Bangladesh, Columbia, average in the years until 2050 and

These deve lopments are a l so Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines Peru’s growth rate will be 5.5 percent.

confirmed by the Organization for and Vietnam. The fantastic Seven as Possibly as much people as in the USA

E c o n o m i c C o o p e r a t i o n a n d well as other emerging market countries could populate Nigeria by the year

Development (OECD). „If the latest will constantly challenge the developed 2050. Columbia is developing with

trends like demographical evolution, G-7-national economies, especially in annual growth rates around 4.5 percent

knowlegde based technological change, terms of production of durable to the gateway of the Caribbean,

globalization and growing pressure on product ion goods. Long-ter m Morocco is the new springboard for

the environment will pursue, then it will prognoses for those countries sound European companies to the fast

have tremendous effect on the world dreamlike: Additionally, an almost growing markets of Western Africa.

economy“, states the economical exploding pool of well-educated and And Vietnam is just taking over China

department of OECD in their latest motivated talents wings the growth of as location for inexpensive, personnel

repor t „Shift ing Gear : Pol icy those countries. And not only this: intense manufacturing.

Challenges for the next 50 years“. Many of them will lead new Norbert Winkeljohann: „It’s high time

Within the next 50 years, as the authors multinational companies into the for CEOs und proprietors to see the

note, the world economic growth will future. The countries themselves will world with different eyes than five years

decrease from 3.6 percent until 2020 develop themselves to huge sales ago. Growth potential is emerging in

towards 2.4 percent until 2050/2060. markets as well. markets, which were not targeted

„However the salary structure in the According to a HSBC-Bank report, before in the plans of the strategic

emerging markets with low salaries will countries like the Philippines and Peru department.“ So it is high time, to

grow more dynamically – with a more will climb noticeably in the ranking of canvas those countries thoroughly.

than sevenfold growing GDP per the biggest national economies. The

capita. Therefore masses of people will Philippines should locate on position


at University of Liberal Ar ts economies is embracing the business came under fire to be producers of long Bangladesh says, “Half of the courses school experience enthusiastically, but time debtors. An article from are ideally skill-based training, but then is still boarding planes to do it. Bloomberg states:again it can only be attained if there is a However, in many instances their mid “Two years at a top business school love for learning the trade, not merely to long term agenda has changed. costs around $100,000 in tuition, and for getting a job. In Bangladesh, this is a Rather than look for a job in their alma students at these programs have even big problem. Classroom lectures are not mater's home country, as used to be the more debt than their peers, who are also everything, and that is where we are case, they are heading home again with heavily indebted. At Dartmouth lagging behind. The severe shortage of their brand new qualification. Why? University's Tuck School of Business, skills in business graduates is one of the Simply because they perceive that this is the median debt load for students was major reasons why there is a high where the real action, the real $90,000, including student loans, credit unemployment rate among business opportunity lies, not in the sluggish or card debt, and personal debt, twice as majors.” Furthermore, Prof. Rahman ailing economies of the developed high as the median of $40,000 at all U.S. states: “The cut-paste curriculum that

most universities have adopted need to

be phased out and the respective

management needs to find out what

actually should be taught. Sadly, this is

also why there is no actual integration

between the business curriculum and

employers.”

That rather non-optimistic picture of

the domestic business schools and

course degree scenario can cause

interested students to hesitate to study

in their own country. What is the

a l t e r na t ive fo r the emerg ing

undergraduate? The alternative could

be studying abroad. In today's

globalized world, it is deemed more

preferable to position yourself in the

world market, where education actually

translates to job opportunities, rather world. schools. Wharton students said their

than staying fixed on the domestic median debt was $66,000.” The pitfall

perspective.Studying Business: A Global of studying in the United States lies in

What is interesting in this year's Forbes Scenario overpriced degree programs that

international MBA ranking is how subsequently condemn the graduates to schools in the established economies of

When speaking of studies abroad, the a long journey of breaking even their the developed world continue to first country which comes to mind in educational investments. dominate the market. Despite the Bangladesh regarding quality education America's elite university system has ongoing problems of its economy, is often still the United States, especially even succumbed to critique from Spain, for example, still manages to when focusing on a MBA degree. Let's within. As a professor at Yale, Bill field three schools in the top twenty, consider if this opinion is still up to Deresiewicz, saw something that while Europe as a whole contributes no date. United States elite universities are troubled him deeply: his students, some less than nine to the top ten.regarded to be in the midst of a crisis. of the nation's brightest minds, were The next generation of professionals In particular, US top business schools adrift when it came to the big questions: and managers from developing

What is interesting in this year's Forbes international

MBA ranking is how schools in the established

economies of the developed world continue to

dominate the market. Despite the ongoing problems

of its economy, Spain, for example, still manages to

field three schools in the top twenty, while Europe as

a whole contributes no less than nine to the top ten.


STUDY IN EUROPE

BGCCI Highlights the Latest Trends in Global Higher Education.

“To be or not to be, that is the is often the first impact, which business schools meet market requirements”. question,” Shakespeare's Hamlet asks influences young adolescents in With thousands of students taking himself. The world renowned question choosing their future profession. admission for tertiary level education at is asked in a slightly modified version at Therefore, thorough and profound both public and private universities, the some stage of life by almost every knowledge about educational and majority of them are taking up human being: “To be, and what to be?” professional options by parents would graduation and post-graduation In the modern society, where options be most required to guide their courses in business administration. It is are limitless, offers are vast and rankings offspring on the suitable professional the most preferred subject of this are must! Nevertheless, what bothers path among all the available tracks. generation and their immediate seniors. people is to define the set of factors However on the other hand, we have while choosing an education suited for What's Happening at the Domestic the information that despite high them? Front? graduation rates there is no translation Confusion and a lack of orientation To cut it to the chase, let's have a closer i n t h e j o b m a rke t , a n d th e among young people is a commonly look at the issue of business schools in disappointingly low employment rates

are disturbing. Since naturally every

graduate wants to enter a job or start

his/her business, how do they correlate

what is actually taught at business

schools to what they want? Are they in

line with the ever-changing demands of

the corporate industry? Does the hard

work at institutions and investment by

guardians in business graduates pay

off?

A British Council-sponsored report on

graduate unemployment in South Asia

published last year and prepared by the

Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU),

shows that 5 out of every 10 graduates

in Bangladesh are unemployed (against

3 out of 10 in India and Pakistan). The Bangladesh. What can the adolescent occurring scenario, when it comes to

report partly attributes the graduate Bangladeshi expect from their domestic choosing the right profession and

unemployment problem to the region's business education? This topic was education. Facing one of life's big

fast expanding but poor quality private explored in detail in the February challenging decisions, many young

education sector and use of outdated edition of the Business Times in the people become puzzled and seek advice

curriculum in public universities.article “Profiting from basics How far to pick the right option! Parental advice

Prof. Imran Rahman, Vice Chancellor

Pave Your Wayto Success

Since naturally every graduate wants to enter a job or

start his/her business, how do they correlate what is

actually taught at business schools to what they want?

Are they in line with the ever-changing demands of

the corporate industry? Does the hard work at

institutions and investment by guardians in business

graduates pay off?

By Rafael Stemplewski


at University of Liberal Ar ts economies is embracing the business came under fire to be producers of long Bangladesh says, “Half of the courses school experience enthusiastically, but time debtors. An article from are ideally skill-based training, but then is still boarding planes to do it. Bloomberg states:again it can only be attained if there is a However, in many instances their mid “Two years at a top business school love for learning the trade, not merely to long term agenda has changed. costs around $100,000 in tuition, and for getting a job. In Bangladesh, this is a Rather than look for a job in their alma students at these programs have even big problem. Classroom lectures are not mater's home country, as used to be the more debt than their peers, who are also everything, and that is where we are case, they are heading home again with heavily indebted. At Dartmouth lagging behind. The severe shortage of their brand new qualification. Why? University's Tuck School of Business, skills in business graduates is one of the Simply because they perceive that this is the median debt load for students was major reasons why there is a high where the real action, the real $90,000, including student loans, credit unemployment rate among business opportunity lies, not in the sluggish or card debt, and personal debt, twice as majors.” Furthermore, Prof. Rahman ailing economies of the developed high as the median of $40,000 at all U.S. states: “The cut-paste curriculum that

most universities have adopted need to

be phased out and the respective

management needs to find out what

actually should be taught. Sadly, this is

also why there is no actual integration

between the business curriculum and

employers.”

That rather non-optimistic picture of

the domestic business schools and

course degree scenario can cause

interested students to hesitate to study

in their own country. What is the

a l t e r na t ive fo r the emerg ing

undergraduate? The alternative could

be studying abroad. In today's

globalized world, it is deemed more

preferable to position yourself in the

world market, where education actually

translates to job opportunities, rather world. schools. Wharton students said their

than staying fixed on the domestic median debt was $66,000.” The pitfall

perspective.Studying Business: A Global of studying in the United States lies in

What is interesting in this year's Forbes Scenario overpriced degree programs that

international MBA ranking is how subsequently condemn the graduates to schools in the established economies of

When speaking of studies abroad, the a long journey of breaking even their the developed world continue to first country which comes to mind in educational investments. dominate the market. Despite the Bangladesh regarding quality education America's elite university system has ongoing problems of its economy, is often still the United States, especially even succumbed to critique from Spain, for example, still manages to when focusing on a MBA degree. Let's within. As a professor at Yale, Bill field three schools in the top twenty, consider if this opinion is still up to Deresiewicz, saw something that while Europe as a whole contributes no date. United States elite universities are troubled him deeply: his students, some less than nine to the top ten.regarded to be in the midst of a crisis. of the nation's brightest minds, were The next generation of professionals In particular, US top business schools adrift when it came to the big questions: and managers from developing

What is interesting in this year's Forbes international

MBA ranking is how schools in the established

economies of the developed world continue to

dominate the market. Despite the ongoing problems

of its economy, Spain, for example, still manages to

field three schools in the top twenty, while Europe as

a whole contributes no less than nine to the top ten.


STUDY IN EUROPE

BGCCI Highlights the Latest Trends in Global Higher Education.

“To be or not to be, that is the is often the first impact, which business schools meet market requirements”. question,” Shakespeare's Hamlet asks influences young adolescents in With thousands of students taking himself. The world renowned question choosing their future profession. admission for tertiary level education at is asked in a slightly modified version at Therefore, thorough and profound both public and private universities, the some stage of life by almost every knowledge about educational and majority of them are taking up human being: “To be, and what to be?” professional options by parents would graduation and post-graduation In the modern society, where options be most required to guide their courses in business administration. It is are limitless, offers are vast and rankings offspring on the suitable professional the most preferred subject of this are must! Nevertheless, what bothers path among all the available tracks. generation and their immediate seniors. people is to define the set of factors However on the other hand, we have while choosing an education suited for What's Happening at the Domestic the information that despite high them? Front? graduation rates there is no translation Confusion and a lack of orientation To cut it to the chase, let's have a closer i n t h e j o b m a rke t , a n d th e among young people is a commonly look at the issue of business schools in disappointingly low employment rates

are disturbing. Since naturally every

graduate wants to enter a job or start

his/her business, how do they correlate

what is actually taught at business

schools to what they want? Are they in

line with the ever-changing demands of

the corporate industry? Does the hard

work at institutions and investment by

guardians in business graduates pay

off?

A British Council-sponsored report on

graduate unemployment in South Asia

published last year and prepared by the

Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU),

shows that 5 out of every 10 graduates

in Bangladesh are unemployed (against

3 out of 10 in India and Pakistan). The Bangladesh. What can the adolescent occurring scenario, when it comes to

report partly attributes the graduate Bangladeshi expect from their domestic choosing the right profession and

unemployment problem to the region's business education? This topic was education. Facing one of life's big

fast expanding but poor quality private explored in detail in the February challenging decisions, many young

education sector and use of outdated edition of the Business Times in the people become puzzled and seek advice

curriculum in public universities.article “Profiting from basics How far to pick the right option! Parental advice

Prof. Imran Rahman, Vice Chancellor

Pave Your Wayto Success

Since naturally every graduate wants to enter a job or

start his/her business, how do they correlate what is

actually taught at business schools to what they want?

Are they in line with the ever-changing demands of

the corporate industry? Does the hard work at

institutions and investment by guardians in business

graduates pay off?

By Rafael Stemplewski


how to think critically and creatively, and how to find a sense of

purpose. His book “Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the

American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life” is climbing up the

bestseller list.

Excellent Sheep takes a sharp look at the high-pressure conveyor

belt that begins with parents and counselors who demand

perfect grades and culminates in the skewed applications

Deresiewicz saw firsthand as a member of Yale's admissions

committee.

Not deepening in the criticism of the American elite university

system, another factor against studying business in the U.S. is

that U.S. business education is designed for the American

market, so if you plan to spent your professional career outside

the U.S., it is not so practical to conduct and finish your

education over there. Moreover, “one of the most important

reasons to make an MBA is the alumni network. And, you have

to face the reality: “Of course the networks of European

schools are bigger than the U.S. ones. If I see my careers future

in Europe, then the European MBA-programs can be very

interesting,” says Gerhard Grueter, investment banker of

Merrill Lynch from London, emphasizing the advantages of

good European business schools in the German Handelsblatt

article “Is the US MBA still worth the effort?”.

Furthermore, it has to be stated that many American business

schools recruit their most valuable academic staff from the

Europe. Therefore, let us explore the European business

schools environment, and the potentials that lie there.

Europe's business schools had some problems in recent years as

well, albeit slowly they are being overcome. Recession on the

continent made them less attractive to foreigners. So did

Britain's tough new visa requirements for students, which

include restrictions on those who can stay and work in the

country after graduation - an essential consideration for those

taking an MBA. As a result, many European programs - even

quite prestigious ones - found it harder to fill their courses.

Nevertheless, European business schools continue to be at the

forefront of innovation in business education, ensuring they

attract top international talent, which in turn attracts global

MBA employers. Despite the economic woes of the region,

recent years have seen record employment statistics among

European business schools graduates, which are supplying

MBA talent not just to local employers in the region, but also to

employers across Asia, the Americas and the Middle East.

Around the globe, students appear confident enough in the

value of formal business education that they are willing to

invest, not just in the conventional MBA, but also in other forms

of the b-school experience. Saïd's Business Schools 1+1

program is a prominent example of the joint approach which

allows students to combine an MBA with a masters in a wide

range of complimentary areas, from criminology to computer

science to biodiversity. Additionally, Europe is also seeing a

boom in pre-experience master's programs, which bring

candidates onto school campuses more or less straight from

Another important factor, which can be

a pitfall for cost explosion of the overall

cost of a MBA-program, is the living

cost expenses. By way of example and

to allow you to become familiar with the

average living cost components of a

European city (Madrid), we provide an

overview from the website of IE

Madrid:

Food and accommodation

expenses

Housing + expenses

Shared room - 400€

Studio - 700€

1 BR apartment - 850€

Utilities - 80€

Food + leisure

Groceries - 150€

Eating out - 10€/lunch

Public transportation

Monthly pass (metro + bus) - 50€

10 trip ticket - 12,5€

1 trip - 1,5€

Mobile phone + internet

Mobile phone - 50€

Internet - 30€

Medical insurance

For those students who need private

medical insurance 40€

(Please note that the costs outlined above are

“estimations” and “basic costs”, it does not

include personal expenses such as those

related to leisure (social life, trips, movies, etc.)

or those related to culture (books, shows,

museums, etc.). It does not take educational

costs (course books) that may be required or

recommended by professors into account. You

will also need to take into consideration costs

related to your visa process (if any) and flight

expenses depending on the location and the

frequency of your trips back home throughout

the year.)


their first degrees. The CEMS Masters in

International Management program, for

example, originally founded by three

schools in the Forbes ranking SDA

Bocconi, HEC Paris and ESADE (plus the

University of Cologne) now embraces

nearly 30 schools around the globe and

over 1000 students every year.

Another interesting opportunity for

business-interested undergraduates is the

Aalto University's School of Business

(formerly known as the Helsinki School of

Economics) one-year postgraduate CEMS

Master's in International Management

(MIM) pre-experience program. The

program is open to a select group of

students enrolled in Master's studies in one teaching. And more than 90% praised the high standard of of the 29 member schools - leading equipment of German university laboratories.academic institution offering postgraduate studies worldwide.The internationalization trend in Germany has not gone Consistently ranked among the top in the world by the unnoticed; it has convinced more and more “high potentials” Financial Times, the CEMS MIM unites multinational from all over the world to choose it as their next study companies and international-caliber professors from leading destination. Almost 250,000 foreign students are currently universities and business schools, jointly designing and registered at German universities nearly 100,000 students delivering theoretical knowledge and practical know-how.more than 10 years ago. Even reaching as far as Bangladesh,

there has been a record growth in the number of Bangladeshi Studying in Germany: The Land of Ideasstudents studying in Germany. A total of 730 Bangladesh In the recently published World's Leading Higher Education nationals enrolled in different Germany universities in the Ranking, Germany has emerged as the world's third best winter semester of 2014 2015, and these numbers are provider of higher education. Germany, appropriately projected to grow even further. marketed as the “Land of Ideas” is becoming more appealing University of applied sciences, college of technology, than ever before for prospective international students. university, and university of cooperative education the Higher education in the Land of Ideas means major emphasis German higher education system has many facets. This on education, science, research, and development; which are diversity enables students to select the best course for their contributing factors to making it one of the most popular needs. Around 72% of Bangladeshi students go to Germany countries to study. It is also recognized as being a site for state for programs in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering of the art research and patent development, processes and Mathematics).enormously applicable in today's world economy. With its

high quality of life, good infrastructure, and attractive central

location in Europe, Germany is the top business destination

in Europe.

Making it more appealing for prospective international

students is that over the past few years higher education in

Germany has transitioned many degree programs to

internationally recognized bachelor's and master's as part of

the Bologna Process, and the trend is continuing, making

studying in Germany more accessible than ever before.

Germany now counts more than 1,000 programs offered in

English that take an international approach, and are

particularly aimed at the international student demographic.

The British magazine Times Higher Education ranks eleven

German universities among the world's 200 best.

International students also rate German universities highly: in

a 2012 survey, a good 85% of the international students

surveyed stated that they were satisfied with the quality of the

Almost 250,000 foreign students are currently registered at

German universities nearly 100,000 students more than 10

years ago. Even reaching as far as Bangladesh, there has been

a record growth in the number of Bangladeshi students

studying in Germany. A total of 730 Bangladesh nationals

enrolled in different Germany universities in the winter

semester of 2014 2015, and these numbers are projected to

grow even further.


how to think critically and creatively, and how to find a sense of

purpose. His book “Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the

American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life” is climbing up the

bestseller list.

Excellent Sheep takes a sharp look at the high-pressure conveyor

belt that begins with parents and counselors who demand

perfect grades and culminates in the skewed applications

Deresiewicz saw firsthand as a member of Yale's admissions

committee.

Not deepening in the criticism of the American elite university

system, another factor against studying business in the U.S. is

that U.S. business education is designed for the American

market, so if you plan to spent your professional career outside

the U.S., it is not so practical to conduct and finish your

education over there. Moreover, “one of the most important

reasons to make an MBA is the alumni network. And, you have

to face the reality: “Of course the networks of European

schools are bigger than the U.S. ones. If I see my careers future

in Europe, then the European MBA-programs can be very

interesting,” says Gerhard Grueter, investment banker of

Merrill Lynch from London, emphasizing the advantages of

good European business schools in the German Handelsblatt

article “Is the US MBA still worth the effort?”.

Furthermore, it has to be stated that many American business

schools recruit their most valuable academic staff from the

Europe. Therefore, let us explore the European business

schools environment, and the potentials that lie there.

Europe's business schools had some problems in recent years as

well, albeit slowly they are being overcome. Recession on the

continent made them less attractive to foreigners. So did

Britain's tough new visa requirements for students, which

include restrictions on those who can stay and work in the

country after graduation - an essential consideration for those

taking an MBA. As a result, many European programs - even

quite prestigious ones - found it harder to fill their courses.

Nevertheless, European business schools continue to be at the

forefront of innovation in business education, ensuring they

attract top international talent, which in turn attracts global

MBA employers. Despite the economic woes of the region,

recent years have seen record employment statistics among

European business schools graduates, which are supplying

MBA talent not just to local employers in the region, but also to

employers across Asia, the Americas and the Middle East.

Around the globe, students appear confident enough in the

value of formal business education that they are willing to

invest, not just in the conventional MBA, but also in other forms

of the b-school experience. Saïd's Business Schools 1+1

program is a prominent example of the joint approach which

allows students to combine an MBA with a masters in a wide

range of complimentary areas, from criminology to computer

science to biodiversity. Additionally, Europe is also seeing a

boom in pre-experience master's programs, which bring

candidates onto school campuses more or less straight from

Another important factor, which can be

a pitfall for cost explosion of the overall

cost of a MBA-program, is the living

cost expenses. By way of example and

to allow you to become familiar with the

average living cost components of a

European city (Madrid), we provide an

overview from the website of IE

Madrid:

Food and accommodation

expenses

Housing + expenses

Shared room - 400€

Studio - 700€

1 BR apartment - 850€

Utilities - 80€

Food + leisure

Groceries - 150€

Eating out - 10€/lunch

Public transportation

Monthly pass (metro + bus) - 50€

10 trip ticket - 12,5€

1 trip - 1,5€

Mobile phone + internet

Mobile phone - 50€

Internet - 30€

Medical insurance

For those students who need private

medical insurance 40€

(Please note that the costs outlined above are

“estimations” and “basic costs”, it does not

include personal expenses such as those

related to leisure (social life, trips, movies, etc.)

or those related to culture (books, shows,

museums, etc.). It does not take educational

costs (course books) that may be required or

recommended by professors into account. You

will also need to take into consideration costs

related to your visa process (if any) and flight

expenses depending on the location and the

frequency of your trips back home throughout

the year.)


their first degrees. The CEMS Masters in

International Management program, for

example, originally founded by three

schools in the Forbes ranking SDA

Bocconi, HEC Paris and ESADE (plus the

University of Cologne) now embraces

nearly 30 schools around the globe and

over 1000 students every year.

Another interesting opportunity for

business-interested undergraduates is the

Aalto University's School of Business

(formerly known as the Helsinki School of

Economics) one-year postgraduate CEMS

Master's in International Management

(MIM) pre-experience program. The

program is open to a select group of

students enrolled in Master's studies in one teaching. And more than 90% praised the high standard of of the 29 member schools - leading equipment of German university laboratories.academic institution offering postgraduate studies worldwide.The internationalization trend in Germany has not gone Consistently ranked among the top in the world by the unnoticed; it has convinced more and more “high potentials” Financial Times, the CEMS MIM unites multinational from all over the world to choose it as their next study companies and international-caliber professors from leading destination. Almost 250,000 foreign students are currently universities and business schools, jointly designing and registered at German universities nearly 100,000 students delivering theoretical knowledge and practical know-how.more than 10 years ago. Even reaching as far as Bangladesh,

there has been a record growth in the number of Bangladeshi Studying in Germany: The Land of Ideasstudents studying in Germany. A total of 730 Bangladesh In the recently published World's Leading Higher Education nationals enrolled in different Germany universities in the Ranking, Germany has emerged as the world's third best winter semester of 2014 2015, and these numbers are provider of higher education. Germany, appropriately projected to grow even further. marketed as the “Land of Ideas” is becoming more appealing University of applied sciences, college of technology, than ever before for prospective international students. university, and university of cooperative education the Higher education in the Land of Ideas means major emphasis German higher education system has many facets. This on education, science, research, and development; which are diversity enables students to select the best course for their contributing factors to making it one of the most popular needs. Around 72% of Bangladeshi students go to Germany countries to study. It is also recognized as being a site for state for programs in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering of the art research and patent development, processes and Mathematics).enormously applicable in today's world economy. With its

high quality of life, good infrastructure, and attractive central

location in Europe, Germany is the top business destination

in Europe.

Making it more appealing for prospective international

students is that over the past few years higher education in

Germany has transitioned many degree programs to

internationally recognized bachelor's and master's as part of

the Bologna Process, and the trend is continuing, making

studying in Germany more accessible than ever before.

Germany now counts more than 1,000 programs offered in

English that take an international approach, and are

particularly aimed at the international student demographic.

The British magazine Times Higher Education ranks eleven

German universities among the world's 200 best.

International students also rate German universities highly: in

a 2012 survey, a good 85% of the international students

surveyed stated that they were satisfied with the quality of the

Almost 250,000 foreign students are currently registered at

German universities nearly 100,000 students more than 10

years ago. Even reaching as far as Bangladesh, there has been

a record growth in the number of Bangladeshi students

studying in Germany. A total of 730 Bangladesh nationals

enrolled in different Germany universities in the winter

semester of 2014 2015, and these numbers are projected to

grow even further.


1. You have a top-class degree recognized around the

world!

7. You can benefit from many scholarship programs!

2. You have a diverse range of study opportunities!

8. You live in a safe country!

3. You can study in English!

9. You live in a diverse country in the heart of Europe!

4. You are not alone!

5. You pay very low tuition fees and sometimes none at

all! 10. You learn a language, which can open many doors!

6. You have very affordable living expenses!

cultural activities are equivalent to the EU average. There are

also a number of concessions available to students. You can

German higher education is one of the best in the world! receive reduced prices at theatres, museums, opera houses,

Whether it is cars or education, people everywhere recognize cinemas, swimming pools and other institutions. All you have

“Made in Germany” as a seal of quality. You can benefit from to do is present your student ID.

Germany's long and famous university tradition especially in

the fields of engineering and science. A German university

degree is highly respected by employers around the world. As an international student with outstanding academic

achievement, you have good chances of receiving a

scholarship to finance your studies in Germany. The German

Germany's higher education system has something for Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is one of the largest

everyone! There are almost 450 state-accredited universities scholarship organizations in the world and offers countless

with some 17,500 degree programs in Germany. German scholarship programs. No matter what your country, subject

universities offer degree programs in every possible subject or status, you will find a scholarship that matches your profile

and academic level be it bachelors, masters, state and needs in the DAAD scholarship database! And not only

examinations or doctoral degrees. General universities focus does the database contain programs offered by the DAAD,

strongly on scientifically oriented study in a wide range of but also many other organizations in Germany.

disciplines. Universities of applied science, on the other hand,

are very practice-oriented. If you are more interested in

artistic subjects, you can enroll at a college of art, film or Germany is a safe country also on an international scale. The

music. police are reliable and help you in every situation. Whether you

live in a big city or in the country, you can move freely day or

night without having to take any special precautions.

More and more courses and degree programs are being

offered in English, especially at the master's degree level. This

is good news if you do not know any German or if your Beaches and mountains, medieval city centers and pulsating

German is not good enough yet. You will find an overview of metropolises, and above all, lots of nature. Germany is a

international degree programs in Germany in the large diverse country with many facets! Living in Germany means

DAAD database. living in the middle of Europe surrounded by many other

countries. Whether you would like to visit Paris, Prague, Rome

or Copenhagen, you have a wide range of destinations at your

Around twelve percent of students at German universities doorstep. Within a couple of hours by train or plane, you can

come from foreign countries, just like you. experience an entirely different culture and language.

Weekend trips are no problem and affordable.

Students normally do not have to pay tuition fees at German German is one of the ten most spoken languages in the world.

universities, and if so, the fees are very low. Most German Some 185 million people worldwide can speak German. You

universities receive considerable financing from the can still study in Germany even if you don't know German,

government. Bachelor's degree programs are usually tuition- but having some knowledge of the language can make

free at public universities. Some master's degree programs, everyday life easier and help you make friends faster. Knowing

however, come with tuition fees, but they're not as high as in a foreign language also looks great on a résumé! Nobody says

other countries. that German is an easy language, but there are many ways to

learn German in a course, with a tandem partner or with

German flat mates

Compared with other European countries, the cost of living in

Germany is reasonable. The cost of food, rent, clothing and

Top Ten Reasons forStudying in Germany


World University Rankings 2014 2015 top rated Germany Universities

Christian Zürpel, Third Secretary at the German Embassy in Dhaka shares with us a few vital

information about studying in Germany and obtaining Visa. These are as follows:

The German Embassy in Dhaka recommends for applicants to avoid agencies in the student

visa application process. Zürpel points out, that agencies charge high fees for their services,

though the visa application process is transparent and all necessary information can be

obtained online.

Please be informed that B1 Level proficiency in German language is required for student

visa application and the B1-Course preparing for the language exam at the Goethe Institute

takes one full year. Due to high numbers of interested individuals in the courses at the

Goethe Institute, you can undergo long waiting time for subscribing to the courses.

About finding Right Information for potential Bangladeshi students looking to study

in Germany

First of all you will have to identify the study course you wish to pursue. For finding such a

course and for further general information concerning studies in Germany, please visit:

http://www.daad.de/deutschland/studienangebote/studiengang/en/

Please note that the requirements for every individual study course may differ, hence, read

the course outline thoroughly. In case you need to be proficient in German, please contact

a language school of your choice, they will be glad to assist you in organizing a language

course.

Secondly, your study stay in Germany has to be financed. For more detailed information on

scholarships and other financial support for your studies, please refer to:

http://www.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/en/

The last step is the application for a visa. Concerning visa issues, please refer to:

Http://www.dhaka.diplo.de/visa

About Visa & Language Proficiency Requirement


1. You have a top-class degree recognized around the

world!

7. You can benefit from many scholarship programs!

2. You have a diverse range of study opportunities!

8. You live in a safe country!

3. You can study in English!

9. You live in a diverse country in the heart of Europe!

4. You are not alone!

5. You pay very low tuition fees and sometimes none at

all! 10. You learn a language, which can open many doors!

6. You have very affordable living expenses!

cultural activities are equivalent to the EU average. There are

also a number of concessions available to students. You can

German higher education is one of the best in the world! receive reduced prices at theatres, museums, opera houses,

Whether it is cars or education, people everywhere recognize cinemas, swimming pools and other institutions. All you have

“Made in Germany” as a seal of quality. You can benefit from to do is present your student ID.

Germany's long and famous university tradition especially in

the fields of engineering and science. A German university

degree is highly respected by employers around the world. As an international student with outstanding academic

achievement, you have good chances of receiving a

scholarship to finance your studies in Germany. The German

Germany's higher education system has something for Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is one of the largest

everyone! There are almost 450 state-accredited universities scholarship organizations in the world and offers countless

with some 17,500 degree programs in Germany. German scholarship programs. No matter what your country, subject

universities offer degree programs in every possible subject or status, you will find a scholarship that matches your profile

and academic level be it bachelors, masters, state and needs in the DAAD scholarship database! And not only

examinations or doctoral degrees. General universities focus does the database contain programs offered by the DAAD,

strongly on scientifically oriented study in a wide range of but also many other organizations in Germany.

disciplines. Universities of applied science, on the other hand,

are very practice-oriented. If you are more interested in

artistic subjects, you can enroll at a college of art, film or Germany is a safe country also on an international scale. The

music. police are reliable and help you in every situation. Whether you

live in a big city or in the country, you can move freely day or

night without having to take any special precautions.

More and more courses and degree programs are being

offered in English, especially at the master's degree level. This

is good news if you do not know any German or if your Beaches and mountains, medieval city centers and pulsating

German is not good enough yet. You will find an overview of metropolises, and above all, lots of nature. Germany is a

international degree programs in Germany in the large diverse country with many facets! Living in Germany means

DAAD database. living in the middle of Europe surrounded by many other

countries. Whether you would like to visit Paris, Prague, Rome

or Copenhagen, you have a wide range of destinations at your

Around twelve percent of students at German universities doorstep. Within a couple of hours by train or plane, you can

come from foreign countries, just like you. experience an entirely different culture and language.

Weekend trips are no problem and affordable.

Students normally do not have to pay tuition fees at German German is one of the ten most spoken languages in the world.

universities, and if so, the fees are very low. Most German Some 185 million people worldwide can speak German. You

universities receive considerable financing from the can still study in Germany even if you don't know German,

government. Bachelor's degree programs are usually tuition- but having some knowledge of the language can make

free at public universities. Some master's degree programs, everyday life easier and help you make friends faster. Knowing

however, come with tuition fees, but they're not as high as in a foreign language also looks great on a résumé! Nobody says

other countries. that German is an easy language, but there are many ways to

learn German in a course, with a tandem partner or with

German flat mates

Compared with other European countries, the cost of living in

Germany is reasonable. The cost of food, rent, clothing and

Top Ten Reasons forStudying in Germany


World University Rankings 2014 2015 top rated Germany Universities

Christian Zürpel, Third Secretary at the German Embassy in Dhaka shares with us a few vital

information about studying in Germany and obtaining Visa. These are as follows:

The German Embassy in Dhaka recommends for applicants to avoid agencies in the student

visa application process. Zürpel points out, that agencies charge high fees for their services,

though the visa application process is transparent and all necessary information can be

obtained online.

Please be informed that B1 Level proficiency in German language is required for student

visa application and the B1-Course preparing for the language exam at the Goethe Institute

takes one full year. Due to high numbers of interested individuals in the courses at the

Goethe Institute, you can undergo long waiting time for subscribing to the courses.

About finding Right Information for potential Bangladeshi students looking to study

in Germany

First of all you will have to identify the study course you wish to pursue. For finding such a

course and for further general information concerning studies in Germany, please visit:

http://www.daad.de/deutschland/studienangebote/studiengang/en/

Please note that the requirements for every individual study course may differ, hence, read

the course outline thoroughly. In case you need to be proficient in German, please contact

a language school of your choice, they will be glad to assist you in organizing a language

course.

Secondly, your study stay in Germany has to be financed. For more detailed information on

scholarships and other financial support for your studies, please refer to:

http://www.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/en/

The last step is the application for a visa. Concerning visa issues, please refer to:

Http://www.dhaka.diplo.de/visa

About Visa & Language Proficiency Requirement


What are some differences between they want to study in German. the education system in Germany and Bangladesh? What are the differences between The education system in Germany is life in Germany and Bangladesh? totally different than in Bangladesh. For Anything future Bangladeshi's example from the lectures to the students should know? examination system, everything is Every country has a different culture different. I have experienced power and a unique way of life. In Germany, point lectures by the professors, group people are very friendly, helpful and

law, any foreign student outside the EU study, seminar, presentation for the straightforward. People here are very has the right to study in Europe after courses, oral exam, short written concerned with managing their time meeting the requirements of the visa assignment (1500 to 4500 words) as efficiently. I recommend Bangladeshi procedure. Although my personal well as practical study project that might students to acknowledge the fact that experience was a bad one as I initially not be the trend in many universities of the traffic in Germany is very different got a visa denial. After receiving the visa Bangladesh. Most importantly in than back home in Bangladesh. denial, I appealed against the decision Germany, there is no chance to Germany is a country with strict rules with the help of a German lawyer, and memorize lessons for passing exams and regulations and contracts; here appeal was eventually honored by the while in Bangladesh cramming is people favor planning. To help your German Embassy. My suggestion to encouraged in schools, colleges and finances during your studies, you are Bangladeshi students regarding the visa universities. Education system in allowed to work 120 days in a year and interview is to be confident and feel Germany is more practical, follows the 20 hours in a week, tax free, if you are relaxed during the interview. All international charter, and gives more not earning more than 450 Euro per students have to be informed about practical knowledge about the study month.their study course including the program. duration as well as the course details and Before going to study in Germany, Finally the visa procedure, can you how it will help them for future life. make sure you have a g ood tell us a little about that? Geographical knowledge of Germany understanding and proficiency in Every student have to follow the visa and their last study program in English language as it allows you to application procedure which includes Bangladesh is also advisable. Speak have an easier transition into the an interview, accompanied by the clearly and clarify why you wish to English taught German higher submission of all required documents pursue a study in Germany.education. Another piece of advice is to i.e. admission letter of university, bank

learn German language beforehand statements, as well all the educational from the Goethe-Institut in Dhaka if certificates. According to European

It has been four and

half months I am here

in Germany. I have

gathered so many

good experiences.


When the decision has been made to procedure as I have done it by myself. It important stage for the student to took one year of preparation to shape study internationally, it is very prepare themselves for studying my plans of studying in Germany. I important to orientate yourself on what abroad. As I know, a majority of took the IELTS (English language test) you want to study, and where. students in Bangladesh rely on the and collected all the necessary papers Familiarize yourself with courses, agencies for finding a course and and certificates from my educational programs, and application procedures. university which eventually does not institutions. In addition, I requested There is a lot of graft work that goes allow the student to gain the full recommendation letters from my into a study abroad, but with the right experience.university professors. Students also measures, attitude, and perseverance, it

have to send documents to Uni-assist will open the door to a life changing, How was the transition from

for verifying certificates to check if they mind altering, rewarding, opportunity Bangladesh to Germany for you?

are eligible or not. that will pay of the rest of your life, if To answer this question in one

I got this information from the DAAD not only in the experiences gained. sentence, I would say, it gives me a

as well as German embassy in Dhaka To showcase the journey towards bridge for the future to make myself as websites. I applied to different German higher education for a a better-educated person with academic universities on their web portals and Bangladeshi student we interviewed, and social knowledge. Life abroad is not later on, I sent my online application via Johnny Islam, currently pursuing his easy, as I have to maintain everything postal service. Master's degree in Frankfurt. from house, food, study and social life. My suggestion to all Bangladeshi Germany is a very different country How was the University application students who aspire to study in Europe than Bangladesh. I am experiencing procedure? Do you have any tips for is that, they should do all preparation different culture, educational system as prospective students in Bangladesh work by themselves including selecting well as university life with international wishing to study in Germany? the university as well as preparing all the

necessary documents. This is the most students.I experienced a very smooth application

Are You Ready for the Long Journey?


What are some differences between they want to study in German. the education system in Germany and Bangladesh? What are the differences between The education system in Germany is life in Germany and Bangladesh? totally different than in Bangladesh. For Anything future Bangladeshi's example from the lectures to the students should know? examination system, everything is Every country has a different culture different. I have experienced power and a unique way of life. In Germany, point lectures by the professors, group people are very friendly, helpful and

law, any foreign student outside the EU study, seminar, presentation for the straightforward. People here are very has the right to study in Europe after courses, oral exam, short written concerned with managing their time meeting the requirements of the visa assignment (1500 to 4500 words) as efficiently. I recommend Bangladeshi procedure. Although my personal well as practical study project that might students to acknowledge the fact that experience was a bad one as I initially not be the trend in many universities of the traffic in Germany is very different got a visa denial. After receiving the visa Bangladesh. Most importantly in than back home in Bangladesh. denial, I appealed against the decision Germany, there is no chance to Germany is a country with strict rules with the help of a German lawyer, and memorize lessons for passing exams and regulations and contracts; here appeal was eventually honored by the while in Bangladesh cramming is people favor planning. To help your German Embassy. My suggestion to encouraged in schools, colleges and finances during your studies, you are Bangladeshi students regarding the visa universities. Education system in allowed to work 120 days in a year and interview is to be confident and feel Germany is more practical, follows the 20 hours in a week, tax free, if you are relaxed during the interview. All international charter, and gives more not earning more than 450 Euro per students have to be informed about practical knowledge about the study month.their study course including the program. duration as well as the course details and Before going to study in Germany, Finally the visa procedure, can you how it will help them for future life. make sure you have a g ood tell us a little about that? Geographical knowledge of Germany understanding and proficiency in Every student have to follow the visa and their last study program in English language as it allows you to application procedure which includes Bangladesh is also advisable. Speak have an easier transition into the an interview, accompanied by the clearly and clarify why you wish to English taught German higher submission of all required documents pursue a study in Germany.education. Another piece of advice is to i.e. admission letter of university, bank

learn German language beforehand statements, as well all the educational from the Goethe-Institut in Dhaka if certificates. According to European

It has been four and

half months I am here

in Germany. I have

gathered so many

good experiences.


When the decision has been made to procedure as I have done it by myself. It important stage for the student to took one year of preparation to shape study internationally, it is very prepare themselves for studying my plans of studying in Germany. I important to orientate yourself on what abroad. As I know, a majority of took the IELTS (English language test) you want to study, and where. students in Bangladesh rely on the and collected all the necessary papers Familiarize yourself with courses, agencies for finding a course and and certificates from my educational programs, and application procedures. university which eventually does not institutions. In addition, I requested There is a lot of graft work that goes allow the student to gain the full recommendation letters from my into a study abroad, but with the right experience.university professors. Students also measures, attitude, and perseverance, it

have to send documents to Uni-assist will open the door to a life changing, How was the transition from

for verifying certificates to check if they mind altering, rewarding, opportunity Bangladesh to Germany for you?

are eligible or not. that will pay of the rest of your life, if To answer this question in one

I got this information from the DAAD not only in the experiences gained. sentence, I would say, it gives me a

as well as German embassy in Dhaka To showcase the journey towards bridge for the future to make myself as websites. I applied to different German higher education for a a better-educated person with academic universities on their web portals and Bangladeshi student we interviewed, and social knowledge. Life abroad is not later on, I sent my online application via Johnny Islam, currently pursuing his easy, as I have to maintain everything postal service. Master's degree in Frankfurt. from house, food, study and social life. My suggestion to all Bangladeshi Germany is a very different country How was the University application students who aspire to study in Europe than Bangladesh. I am experiencing procedure? Do you have any tips for is that, they should do all preparation different culture, educational system as prospective students in Bangladesh work by themselves including selecting well as university life with international wishing to study in Germany? the university as well as preparing all the

necessary documents. This is the most students.I experienced a very smooth application

Are You Ready for the Long Journey?

BGCCI Magazine Vol 3 Issue 1

Documents