6th plan sees 7.3pc GDP growth rate

Dhaka, June 22 (bdnews24.com) ? The National Economic Council has cleared the Sixth Five Year Plan involving Tk 13.47 trillion.

The approval came from a meeting of the council, with prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair on Wednesday.

After the meeting, planning minister A K Khandker told reporters that the five-year plan envisaged Tk 13.47 trillion investments.

Planning Commission general economy department member Shamsul Alam told reporters that the implementation of the plan began in July last year, with the beginning of the current fiscal. "It'll continue until June 2015."

According to the plan, the government will provide Tk 3.1 trillion or 22.8 percent of the investments, including an estimated 9.3 percent from foreign sources.

The remaining, around 77 percent, will come from the private sector, most of which has been estimated to come from local individual sources.

It has been estimated that the gross domestic product (GDP) will grow at 7.3 percent and stand at eight percent by the end of the plan.

Inflation will be cut down to six percent, it adds.

"Increasing investment and productivity, along with proper management of financial and exchange sectors, will be the keys to achieve the growth," the plan reads.

Planning minister A K Khandker said, "The plan has been enacted to implement Vision 2021 of Awami League's election pledge. Bangladesh'll become a country of middle-income once the Seventh Five-Year Plan is implemented."

Seven areas have been accorded priority in the plan.

These are to increase income and reduce poverty, develop manpower, safe water and sewerage, fuel and infrastructure, gender equality and women's empowerment, balance of environment, and information and communications technology.

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