Foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen. COURTESY
Foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen Monday called for investment at various wings of blue economy putting special emphasis on mariculture as 88 percent of the country's fishing zone is still untapped. "So far we have penetrated about only 12% of total fishing zone .. 88% area is still untapped ... it's a limitless opportunity (for investors)," he said.
The foreign minister was speaking at the business session titled ‘Blue Economy: Discover the Future’ of the ‘International Investment Summit 2021 Bangladesh’ as the Session Chair in the capital this afternoon.
Dr Momen said, only 120 out of 475 species of white fishes, available in the Bay of Bengal, are being caught while only 6 to 7 among 36 species of shrimps are available for catching as the country's deep sea fishing capacity only reaches 50-60 nautical mile.
"These data shows that there is plenty of opportunities to make money," he told the potential local and international investors. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the minister said the present government has taken the Blue Economy issue with great importance.
"Sheikh Hasina's government is business friendly and I can assure you that the Government of Bangladesh is keen to offer a conducive, friendly and safe environment for investment in Bangladesh in the different sectors of the economy," Dr Momen said.
He said nine maritime economic functions have been identified including fishery, maritime trade and shipping, energy and marine tourism while the government has adopted a ‘Blue Economy Development Work Plan’.
"We need necessary capacity building and investment for getting most out of these identified sectors," he added.
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