ICSB CPD SEMINAR HELD ON “SDGs: PRIVATE SECTOR’S ROLES AND CHALLENGES”

Photo from Left– Mr. Mohammad Sanaullah FCS, President, ICSB, Mr. Golam Mainuddin, Vice President, MCCI, Mr. Asif Ibrahim, Former President, DCCI, Mr. Mohammad Asad Ullah FCS, Chairman, Professional Development Sub Committee and Immediate Past President of ICSB, Mr. M. A. Mannan MP, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Planning, Mr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Principal Coordinator, SDGs Affairs, Prime Minister’s Office, Mr. Shehzad Munim, President, FICCI, Mr. K.H. Masud Siddiqui, Former Secretary, GoB, Professor M. Harunur Rashid Ph.D, Chairman of BAC International, Mr. Md. Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin), President, FBCCI and Mr. Md. Azizur Rahman FCS, Director General, Intellectual Property Association of Bangladesh (IPAB) and Council Member of ICSB.

Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Bangladesh (ICSB) has organized a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Seminar on “SDGs: Private Sector’s Roles and Challenges” on Saturday, March 02, 2019.

Mr. Mohammad Asad Ullah FCS, Chairman, Professional Development Sub Committee and Immediate Past President (IPP) of the Institute presided over the CPD Seminar. In his welcome address, he cordially thanked everyone for participating in this time befitting event.The Bangladesh government has already integrated the SDGs in national plans by inserting them in the 7th Five Year Plan, which began in 2016. To achieve the targets of SDG it is high time to move forward. Mr. Asad Ullah FCS further elaborated that since, the Members of ICSB are professionally fit and competent to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Chartered Secretary Professionals could be involved in different initiatives of SDGs for better contribution to the national economy. The estimates show that an additional amount over the current provision of investment related to SDGs by public sectors and external sources, would be US$ 928.48 billion. This amount would be required for SGDs implementation over the period of FY 2017- FY 2030. The study has suggested five potential sources of gap financing, one of the most important source is Private Sector financing. Therefore, for implementation of SDG properly government should emphasize on the private sector’s connectivity where more than 70% revenue is generated from the Private Sector of the country and that is why our expert paper presenters and panelists discussed on the today’s theme of the Seminar.

Mr. Asad Ullah mentioned few challenges for implementation of SDG:

1. For developing country like Bangladesh – specific SDG indicators should be in line with the country context.
2. We need to be innovative and work out our own domestic indicators in line with our own development challenges.
3. Bureau of Statistics of Bangladesh should be strengthened to address the data gap in order to properly implement the SDGs.
4. The next stage of development should be attained through skilled workers and productive employment.
5. Private Sector must be aligned with the SDGs, where more than 70% revenue income is generated from this sector.
6. Highly skilled manpower specially the professionals must be produced by the professional Institutes of the Country and as such measures should be made to strengthen the capacity of existing professional institutes of the country.

In this context Professional Secretaries of our Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Bangladesh can make significant contributions to achieve the SDGs.

Mr. M. A. Mannan, M.P., Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh graced the Seminar as the Chief Guest. He said that Bangladesh is also one of the few countries that has achieved its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets faster than projected and is actively engaged in realizing the more challenging Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our GDP has shown steady growth over the past few years. In the last fiscal year, Bangladesh witnessed a 7.65% GDP growth. For the FY 2018-19, we have set a GDP target of 7.8%. To retain the optimum economic growth of our country, Corporate Governance excellence is essentially needed.  He hoped that ICSB would continue to strive hard to produce competent and worthy qualified professionals, who would help to build a prosperous Bangladesh. As one of the top performing countries in terms of reaching the Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh is equally confident in embracing the new SDG targets. We are grateful to our Hon’ble Prime Minister, whose guidance has indicated her wholehearted support and deep commitment to achieving these before the year 2030.

Mr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Principal Coordinator, SDG Affairs, Prime Minister’s Office, Government of Bangladesh attended the programme as Special Guest. He made a presentation on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Dr. M. Harunur Rashid, the Chairman of BAC International presented a Key Note Paper on “SDGs: Private Sector’s Roles and Challenges”. These papers would facilitate the Members of ICSB for further improvement of the Company Secretarial practices in their respective job field. 

Mr. Mohammad Sanaullah FCS, the President of the Institute was present in the occasion. In his speech, he emphasized that practicing good Corporate Governance is the demand of time. Ensuring good governance is key ingredient to support the company’s sustainable growth. Corporate sector also plays important role in helping to meet the SDGs of the country. The Role of the Company Secretary in Sustainability Governance provides an overview of how governance professionals can support the board’s emerging “environmental, social and governance” (ESG) mandate. Since Bangladesh seeks to graduate to a middle income country, it needs to make progress in other critical areas, notably in good governance, rule of law and effective and independent institutions. Chartered Secretaries are capable enough to work for achieving the targets of sustainable development goals. May I request the Chief guest and Special guest please include our Members in the activities of the sustainable development goals / SDG’s  program for the greater interest of the country

Mr. Shehzad Munim, President, FICCI, Mr. Asif Ibrahim, Former President, DCCI, Mr. Md. Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin), President, FBCCI, Mr. Golam Mainuddin Vice President, MCCI, Mr. Md. Azizur Rahman FCS, Director General, Intellectual Property Association of Bangladesh (IPAB) and Council Member of ICSB participated in an enlightening  panel discussion.

A lively open discussion session was held at the later part of the CPD programme where the Paper Presenters answered different questions of the participants.

The Program was attended by a large number of Members of the Institute who are working in different listed companies of the country Corporate Leaders and Govt. Officials.

Prof. Dr. Feroz Iqbal Faruque, FCS, former Senior Vice President of ICSB delivered vote of thanks on behalf of the Institute.