Bangladesh will complete the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan, the world 3rd largest economy, by December 2025 to
strengthen bilateral economic relations alongside availing duty-free market facilities to that country.
“Both the countries are also committed to sign the EPA within this timeframe,” said Commerce Ministry Senior Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh at a press conference held at the Ministry of
Commerce at Bangladesh Secretariat today.
DBH Finance PLC, the country largest housing finance provider, has been awared by Naitonal Board of Revenue (NBR) as one of the highest taxpayers for the Fiscal Year 2022-23. The company received the award under the “Non-Banking Financial Institutions” category, said a press release.
Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem, handed the prestigious tax card and crest over to Nasimul Baten, Managing Director of DBH Finance PLC. at an event organized at Bangabandhu International Conference Center recently. Md. Abdul Ahad, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of DBH Finance PLC, was also present during the presentation.
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) launched the SolarX Startup Challenge for the Asia-Pacific region at COP28, showcasing its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and driving solar projects in the region. Following the success of the Africa edition, SolarX APAC is poised to be a pivotal force in advancing solar initiatives.
This groundbreaking initiative aims to cultivate scalable business models, accelerate global energy transitions, and bridge energy and investment gaps. Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General of the ISA, emphasized the significance of this initiative in a comprehensive strategy to promote solar deployment.
A few months back, Bangladesh Government has signed a country partnership agreement with the International Solar Alliance in order to facilitate enhanced solar energy development in Bangladesh on February 2023. The agreement will be implemented by December 2026, with the aim of leading Bangladesh into creating a pipeline of bankable solar projects and attracting investments.
Sharing his insight on why such a project was needed, Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General of the ISA said: "The SolarX Startup Challenge epitomizes our commitment to accelerating solar deployment in the Asia-Pacific region. We recognize the unique challenge of developing projects in economies requiring renewable energy. ISA is addressing this challenge from both ends. We are collaborating with governments to establish favourable policies and, through SolarX, attracting investments to create a demand where there was none. The Solar for She program, launched alongside SolarX, aims to encourage more women-led startups, building on the success seen in the Africa leg of SolarX. My hope is that these entrepreneurs achieve levels of success that rival the impact and innovation of Amazon and Google."
Under the SolarX Startup Challenge, 20 startups from across the Asia-Pacific region will be selected, each receiving a USD 15,000 cash grant, totalling USD 300,000. This initiative, symbolizing a commitment to excellence, provides a transformative platform for entrepreneurial success, innovation, and strategic networking. Successful entrepreneurs will undergo an intensive acceleration program and receive mentorship from seasoned professionals. To facilitate market penetration and expansion, SolarX winners will be connected with potential investors and granted access to diverse markets within the Asia-Pacific region.
Dr Mathur added that: "ISA has established a Global Solar Facility to unlock investments, and by cultivating entrepreneurs, we aim to foster locally relevant business models and create a robust project pipeline. Through entrepreneurship, finance, and increased investments, we anticipate a transformative shift in enabling a swift energy transition. Our vision is to nurture a new generation of leaders shaping the future of solar energy and contributing to global climate action."
Samsung Electronics has been recognized among the ‘Global Top 5’ brands by Interbrand, a global brand consultancy, for the fourth consecutive year, on November 21, 2023.
A remarkable year-on-year growth of 4 percent, accumulating to a brand value of USD 91.4 billion, implementation of viable customer experience strategies, and introduction of industry-leading innovation contributed to this magnificent achievement.
Despite a sluggish demand within the IT industry this year, Samsung has been able to increase its brand value across all arenas.
The company also promoted increased connectivity and enhanced gaming experiences through a wide-ranging product portfolio and SmartThings.
Moreover, they proved themselves as a leader in future innovative technologies such as 6G, artificial intelligence (AI), automotive, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR), and implemented consistent actions to strengthen ESG leadership through eco-conscious activities across all product lines. Such initiatives played a pivotal role for the South Korean electronics giant in earning this accolade.
As part of the company’s efforts to improve its customer experience, Samsung Electronics established the Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Center under the Global Marketing Office to provide an integrated online and offline experience. The company also has the CX-MDE Center, which is responsible for strengthening the multi-device experience. Partnerships were also a major factor that drove Samsung’s brand value over the past year, an example being SmartThings.
Samsung is further strengthening its open partnerships to connect various third-party devices.
Besides, the company continues to invest in leading future technologies to enable and empower the consumers of tomorrow.
ESG has also been a major focal point, as the company’s eco-conscious activities are making an impact. Samsung’s efforts include increasing the usage of recycled materials, such as plastics from discarded fishing nets, glass, and aluminum in Galaxy S23 and Galaxy Z Flip5, Fold5 series; open licensing of solar cell remote technology used in TVs; working together with Patagonia on the Less Microfiber™ Filter for washing machines; and introducing AI energy mode in SmartThings Energy.
Throughout the year, Samsung has been making significant improvements across all its business divisions, including Mobile, Network, Visual Display, Home Appliances, and Semiconductors. Through impactful campaigns, consolidated strategies, and continuous improvements, Samsung has been reaching beyond boundaries to strengthen its position across all fields.
“Samsung Electronics has been able to hold on to a steady growth of its brand value despite a challenging business environment, and the credit goes to all our incredible customers worldwide. Such achievements motivate us to work harder and reach for the unbound possibilities through consistent efforts and meaningful experiences,” said Hwansung Woo, Managing Director of Samsung Bangladesh.
Interbrand’s Best Global Brands are listed according to the evaluation of each brand value, which is a result of a comprehensive analysis of the company’s financial performance, the influence of the brand on customer purchases, and brand competitiveness. It is a brand value evaluation with one of the longest histories in the world and is widely recognized for its credibility.