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   DHAKA, Jan 20, 2022 (BSS) - The government has awarded the Commercially Important Person (CIP) cards to 176 businessmen for their extraordinary performance in export and trade in 2018.

   Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi today handed over the CIP cards among the awardees at a function held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the city.

   Out of the 176 businessmen, 138 received the status for their outstanding performance in export of different products while 38 got the status under the trade category.

   The CIP cards for the year 2018 were given in 22 export categories, like garment, leather, footwear and frozen food.

   Speaking at the function, Tipu Munshi welcomed the winners and said Bangladesh has become a 'role model' of development for the active participation of the country's business community in the development journey.

   He mentioned that Bangladesh has set US$51 billion export target for the current fiscal 2021-22 and $80 billion export target for the fiscal 2023-24.

   "We are providing special focus on diversification of the exportable products. Due to the Covid pandemic, there is a scope of relocation of investment from other countries. So, I hope that we will achieve the export targets," he added.

   Tipu Munshi urged the businessmen to take time-befitting initiatives for attracting the investors of other countries to relocate their investment in Bangladesh.

   He informed that the government is working to address the upcoming challenges after graduating from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status.

   "There will be problems. After resolving all problems, we are moving ahead of development," he added.

   Senior Secretary of the Commerce Ministry Tapan Kanti Ghosh, President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) Md Jashim Uddin, President of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Md Saiful Islam and FBCCI Director Naaz Farhana Ahmed, among others, spoke on the occasion.

   Tapan Kanti Ghosh said every graduating economy undergoes a transitional process with a deep aspiration of renewed economic journey.

   He hoped that the LDC graduation will not hinder the country's development journey as Bangladesh's economy is developing based on local entrepreneurs.

   The graduation will also generate ample of opportunities in many respects including private sector development, enriched industrial base, investment and trade growth and local market expansion and so on, he said.

 According to the gazette notification, the CIPs will be able to use the cards as passes at the entry at the Bangladesh secretariat and they will also get letter of introduction from the foreign ministry for getting visa.

   The CIP card holders will enjoy various facilities, including priority in seat reservation at government transports in air, road, rail and waterways and getting invitation at national events.