Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 11, 2010—
The Bangladesh Investment Climate Fund, managed by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has organized a lecture for university students and faculty members in Dhaka, aimed at building universities’ capacity to become sustainable centers for investment climate research and advocacy.
The lecture was part of the Bangladesh Investment Climate Fund’s Academic Partnership Program, which seeks to engage stakeholders in investment climate issues. The program is being piloted at five universities: the American International University Bangladesh, BRAC University, East West University, Independent University of Bangladesh, and North South University.
Dr. Gustav F. Papanek, a leading global development economist, professor, and Head of the Harvard University Development Advisory Service, led the discussions on Bangladesh’s investment climate and economic development. He is also President of the Boston Institute for Developing Economies and has been involved in Bangladesh’s economy since 1954. He said he was impressed by the growth of private universities in the country, and by their partnership with BICF on investment climate issues. “Academic and student participation are important factors in shaping the investment climate and developing a business environment conducive to private sector growth,” he said.
Syed Akhtar Mahmood, BICF Senior Program Manager, said, “The Academic Partnership Program is a new direction in thinking that offers a forum for academia and the private sector to develop strategic partnerships to improve the country’s overall business climate. We remain committed to transforming universities into sustainable centers of knowledge on investment climate issues.”
Laura Watson, BICF Program Manager, said, “BICF firmly believes in programs like the Academic Partnership Program, which can help increase understanding of investment climate constraints and lay the groundwork for business reforms that will stimulate private sector growth needed to create jobs to keep pace with Bangladesh’s population growth, and to reduce poverty.”
The Bangladesh Investment Climate Fund is managed by IFC, in partnership with the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development and the European Commission.
IFC is the only international financial institution focused exclusively on the private sector, the engine of sustainable development in emerging markets. Along with IBRD, it is currently seeking a capital increase to strengthen its ability to create opportunity for the poor in developing countries—including by encouraging stakeholders to advocate for investment climate improvements.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $14.5 billion in fiscal 2009, helping channel capital into developing countries during the financial crisis. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org
.
