Page 55 - ICE BUSINESS TIMES January 2020
P. 55

like the onion price hike, that kind   medium scale. Then we have   who are maybe mothers. Since we   for Bangladesh is low. Debt   social protection payments,   beyond industry standards, then   for example . If they are able to   policies are prudent. The FY20   We need to address
 of a bubble, then it is a different   some of the service sector, e.g.   don’t have proper daycare   distress means you are not able to   transfer payments – the recurring   they raise their fees.  There is a   supply the Electronic Fiscal   budget maintains an overall   long term structural
 story. So far so good.  banking, telecommunication.   facilities, child rearing becomes a   service your debt. That becomes a   budget has risen. That is why the   deficit in confidenceThe elephant   Device, then they can monitor the   deficit target of 5 percent of GDP.
 The one concern on the inflation   Even wholesale and retail trade,   full time responsibility.  major worry if governments start   deficit is rising now. Our deficit   in the room are the NPLs, and if   collection better so the revenue   Domestic financing is projected to   reforms, and the
 front from the demand side is that   apart from the departmental   We don’t have employment growth   defaulting then the whole financial   target has always been 5% of GDP.   we don’t address this now  then   effort can start showing some   reach 2.7 percent of GDP with the   investment
 public borrowing is growing very   stores and supermarkets, is   in the formal sector. The main   market will collapse. We don’t have   Typically what happens is you   the weakness in the banking sector   results in the second half of the   balance from foreign sources.   environment , the
 rapidly and if that leads to   largely an informal sector, where   problem is private investment, it is   that problem yet. But recently, the   have shortfalls in both revenue   will continue. Private credit growth   year. If they prioritize on the   Given a low public debt-to-GDP   regulatory
 monetary growth beyond the   some of them aren’t even   almost stagnant as a percentage of   revenue mobilization has been   relative to the budget and also   is at a historic low at around 10%   expenditure side, this booming   ratio and access to concessional   complexities and the
 monetary policy target, then there   registered. In the formal sector,   the GDP. If existing employers are   poor, fiscal deficit have gone up   shortfall in expenditure relative to   with most of it going to trade   public borrowing would be   external finance, this does not
 could be some demand pull factors   the employment picture does not   not expanding their operations or   and government borrowing from   the budget. But the shortfall in   financing. That’s where the macro   contained. This is the main source   increase the risk of debt distress.  unpredictability. These
 coming in. There is also a demand   look that good. The biggest   new firms are not coming into   domestic sources have also been   expenditures used to exceed the   stability concerns are in banking.  of worry on the macro outlook.  are the long term
 pull from the remittances which   employer is garments, in recent   business then where will the jobs   increasing. This is a concern from   revenue shortfall. This is getting   What are the key short and   policy challenges.
 are doing really well, which is the   news from BGMEA, 200-250   come from? It’s not like   a financial point of view, because   reversed now. The revenue   What is your assessment of   What are the key external   medium-term policy
 only indicator that is strongly   factories have been closed down   investment is not happening at all,   the government is taking money   shortfall will go up, and the   the outlook?  and domestic risks we need   challenges?
 positive, while the remaining are   laying off 20,000-30,000 workers.   but investment proportion of GDP   away from the savers and there   expenditure shortfall will shrink,   Global outlook has improved   to be wary of? And how do   The short term policy challenge is
 strongly negative.  The 2017 labor force survey   is not moving. We have like   isn’t much left for the private   so that buffer is disappearing.   significantly in the last one month.   we overcome them?  firstly will they be able to let go of
 shows an absolute decline.   22-23% private investment rate,   sector to borrow. This puts   There is no crisis, but there are   Two things have happened. One is   Downside risks are primarily   the exchange rate? Second,
 What’s your take on the   Exports have been doing poorly   and for a country like Bangladesh   pressure on the interest rates   some red flags we need to pay   the uncertainty relating to Brexit.   domestic. High NPLs and stock   serious actions need to be taken in
 unemployment rate? How   this fiscal year; there are some   if you want a sustained 7% growth   which could become a problem.   attention to both on the revenue   We still don’t know whether it’ll be   market volatility pose financial   the banking sector regarding the
 do we improve the   serious concerns about   rate, then it has to be around   Revenue performance has been   side and the expenditure side. We   a No-Deal Brexit, or whether they   stability and credit intermediation   NPLs. Efforts to direct the banking   consolidation in the banking
 numbers?   joblessness in the formal sector   28-30% of GDP. It’s a rule of thumb   two years we got rid of $9 billion,   excess demand? We have to decide   very poor and recurrent   should prioritize and try to identify   will work out an alternative   risks. Liquidity pressures may be   sector to provide loans at 9%    sector? If banks were to merge, is
 did okay, but later we have seen   On the unemployment front, we   employment, particularly for   calculation. If you look at the   so if there is any big shock to the   whether we want exchange rate   expenditures have boomed recently   areas of wasteful expenditures.  arrangement. Secondly, the trade   exacerbated by additional   rates don’t work. You cannot force   there an adequate legal
 some reversal both in   don’t have recent numbers. The   females since garments labor   countries that have done really   economy like the one we are   stability or reserve stability. If you   because of the wage hike, rising   The monetary program that is   war between the United States and   government borrowing from   people to do business that they   framework that will enable it? Are
 food-inflation and non-food   last survey was done was in 2017.   force is largely comprised of   well on generating jobs in   having now with exports being   want exchange rate stability then   interest payment burden and the   announced every year is fairly   China has not gone away, but there   domestic banks. A further   find unprofitable. Then we said   the Financial Institution Division
 inflation. It now stands at 6.05%.   The other numbers that you see   women workers.  A part of the   numbers and quality, you realize   down 7.6% in the first five months,   you have to make sure you have   subsidy budget which has   prudent. Monetary growth is   has been a ceasefire. The   deterioration in the financial   forget about 6%, you can charge   and BB, capable of overseeing
 One reason is the infamous onion   that comes from General   reason for this labor shedding is   that our problem is not just that   trade deficit has expanded, the   adequate reserves all the time so   expanded where we have added   almost in the single digit last fiscal   escalation of tariff war was the   health of state-owned banks could   whatever deposit rate you want,   mergers and consolidation. We
 price hike, although onion in the   Economics Division are projections   automation, moving onto more   we don’t have enough employment   current account deficit has   you can intervene in the foreign   new subsidies. Since the   year. There we don’t see any source   biggest worry and that has   undermine the fiscal balance.   but if you want to lend to the   need to address long term
 proportion of total expenditure is   based on growth numbers. We   4IR technologies. The amount of   opportunities, but the jobs   declined as remittances have   exchange market. Bangladesh   procurement of LNG, the power   of instability from monetary policy.   stopped. Even though you won’t   Reform reversals such as easing of   productive sectors, you cannot   structural reforms, and the
 What is the state of the   However, you don’t get to see   inflations were creeping up. The   not that big – it is 1.6% of typical   work previously done by four   available are not worth much. The   boomed by 22%. That has been the   Bank is still very adamant about   sector has been selling it below the   The issues are in financial   see it in the numbers, the global   loan classification standards,   exceed 9%. This was the latest   investment environment , the
 economy in terms of   such strong momentum in the   rice price collapse story was the   household expenditure . But the   have not gone to enterprises and   people is being handled by one   income is not that great. You want   savior. On the financial account,   keeping the foreign exchange rate   cost price. Rental power plants,   regulation, that’s where our main   outlook has improved, because   ceilings on lending rates, reduced   policy until they decided to go   regulatory complex
 done a labor force survey, because
 growth?  economy. BBS is the ‘only’   result of bumper crop causing rice   price increase was so high, like   unemployment is not something   since new machineries are coming   both employment growth and   the foreign aid disbursement has   stable and not devaluing the taka   even if they don’t produce   source of macro instability is.  global economic prospects and   autonomy of BB and the   back to directed interest rates of   unpredictability. These are the
 We are the fastest growing   source of national accounts   prices to fall significantly.   400-500% so even though the   that we regularly measure. For   in. However, automation is not   wage growth. Wage growth in   slowed, but it is still good. We   too much. Our official policy is   anything, they are paying a   Bottom line: external stability is   world economic outlook were   state-owned non-financial   6% on deposits and 9% on credit,   long term policy challenges.
 economy in the world depicted   data.  So, we cannot outright   International commodity prices   weight is low, but the growth is so   unemployment, we need regular   the only reason; there is also a   Bangladesh has barely kept up   have declining exports and   that it is a floating exchange rate   capacity charge which is 60% of   comfortable, but export decline is a   published before these things   corporates, increases in   except on credit cards.   If you are looking at the econom
 by the official estimate. The   reject it, but we cannot   are very stable, so inflation in   high, that it has a visible impact.   surveys, a kind of system we have   competitiveness problem. The   with inflation and the growth in   depressed imports which means   system and we will allow market   their production capacity. Even if   worry. Reserves are okay but   happened. My expectation is that   untargeted subsidies and ad hoc   Implementing such a policy   growth as the headline nu
 problem with the official   unquestionably accept it either.   Bangladesh is largely determined   There were other knock on effects   not developed yet. We have   unemployment rate among the   nominal wages has been below the   the economy is not doing well   demand-supply to do the work.   there is no output, they pay. This is   Bangladesh Bank’s intervention in   when you see the next round of   changes in taxes and fees through   demands a lot on the   need to have sustained high
 estimate is its inconsistency   There may have been healthy   by supply side factors, the cost of   like other spice prices being   anecdotal evidence. Now,  most of   educated youth is the highest   inflation rate in some sectors such   which is why people are not   Bangladesh Bank should only   the reason the Power Development   the foreign exchange market is a   international forecast, it will be   nontransparent processes pose   administrative machinery. Then   growth to achieve our
 with the other growth-related   growth. 6+ is a very healthy   imports, domestic production.   increased, alongside rice prices   our employment is in the informal   among Bangladesh. There is also   as fisheries and construction. In   buying and investing so current   intervene when exchange rates   Board alone, the budget subsidy   worry. We need to let go of the   upgraded not downgraded like it   additional risks. Loss of   there is the problem of poor   SDGs, and upper middle incom
 indicators. In order to explain   growth when we compare with   Fiscal year wise, FY19, inflation   have crept up a little bit. Then in   sector – 85% plus of our labor   a big category outside the labor   the manufacturing sector, wage   machinery imports are down. From   become extremely volatile like 85   provision is about Tk 95 billion   exchange rate. Fiscal debt is okay,   was the last time. That’s good   competitiveness from the real   governance. If you have weak   country stat
 where this growth is coming   other South Asian countries.   the non-food, the house rents and   force. The employment level in the   force. They are the NEET, people   growth has stayed ahead of the   a balance point of view it is a   today, 90 tomorrow and 80 the   BPDB. Then you have export   but revenue is slipping and   news for us because we have a big   exchange rate appreciation could   institutions, and public officials   aspirations that we have. To
 from, we have to break it up   Exports and remittances were   several other consumer prices   informal sector does not really   who are neither employed, nor   inflation rates, so there have been   positive, because it is reducing   day after. There are certain   subsidy, then we introduced the   expenditure is getting out of   presence in the E.U., U.S, Canada   further hinder Bangladesh’s   who are easily corruptible then   achieve those we need investments
 and look at the drivers of   good, and our agriculture   (clothing, footwear) went up. We   change that much, what changes   educated, nor in training, but   1%-2% real growth in wages. For a   pressure for payments, but if we   positive factors which give us a   remittance subsidy, subsidy on   control. If the financial sector   and several other advanced   limited integration in global   these kind of directives are very   and innovations, that’s the
 growth - the official numbers on   production was struck with the   have the same target of 5.5% in   is the hours worked. Open   these are young people who are   country like Bangladesh, you   want economic growth to pick up   sense of comfort and these are   diesel, fertilizer and add to that the   becomes unstable, people lose   markets. The outlook for us will   supply chains.  Higher inflation   difficult to implement. Some   mechanics of it. For people to enter
 the expenditure side. But you   good fortune of two bumper   FY20, but now inflation is above   unemployment rate in Bangladesh   working age people. 9 out of 10   expect a lot more, but if you don’t   and investment to be higher, then   remittance, the reserve we already   confidence in banks, so they start   depend a lot on what is happening   remains a risk in the context of   serious actions need to be taken   and exit business, the environment
 see it is private consumption   crops. Public investments in   that. Depending on the boro   is always very low. If you compare   are women between the ages of   have investments and the formal   imports will rise creating pressure   have and the amount of committed   withdrawing their deposits, but we   in the domestic economy,   growing domestic demand and   on the legal front to enforce the   has to be friendly, which would
 and investment. Usually the   some projects are visible, like   production, I think it will still be   it with the developed countries, it   25-40 who are educated and   sector is not expanding then you   on BOP. The main issue on the   aid money in the pipeline. If we   are not there yet. Financial   particularly on the policy front.   rising public expenditures.   law against the defaulters. There   mean structural reform. One, you
 contribution of foreign trade is   the Metrorail, Padma Bridge,   possible to bring it back down to   would be below the natural rate,   capable, but not in the labor   cannot have good job creation.  external balance front is what do   utilize them properly, then we will   stability means the ability to   Based on the indicators related to   Managing risks will require   are other problems, for example   have to ensure macro stability.
 negative as we have a deficit   which may have supported the   5.5%. We still have six months left,   which doesn’t really mean much.   market. The number is around a   we want to stabilize? We have so   not face an external balance   finance your production and trade.   growth like tax revenue, export,   prudent macroeconomic   why do we have such a high NPL   Second, regulations to start a
 since imports are greater than   growth.  and the international commodity   People can’t afford to not do   staggering 4 million. When you   How do we evaluate the   far chosen the stability of the   problem.  Our external trade needs bank   credit, import of machinery, I   management. The monetary policy   problem? One is our policy   business, to operate a business or
 exports. But last year imports   price outlook is fairly stable. The   anything in a country like   are not finding jobs in the labor   macroeconomic balance of   exchange rate, so when we think   financing; the foreign supplier will   would be inclined to revise it   announced in July 2019 seeks to   encourage default and defaulters   to close a business need to be
 were depressed and exports   Can you talk us through   most important price for us is the   Bangladesh. They may work in a   market, then you get frustrated   external policy?   there is an excess demand for   Can you shed some light on   look at your LC. They don’t accept   downwards, because these are all   contain inflation while achieving   are rewarded, but also there is a   simplified. Third, your
 recovered so there was a   the state of inflation in   oil prices. All our major imports   tea stall, or as a rickshaw puller, it   and stop looking for jobs. Once   When we talk about external   dollars in the foreign exchange   fiscal and monetary   any Bangladeshi LC anymore   in very depressed state. There are   growth objectives. BB maintained   problem on the supply side as in   infrastructure, particularly the
 turnaround, but that is not   the country?   like the diesel, furnace oil,   doesn't mean they are working full   that happens, you are not   policies, bottom line we are doing   market and if the Bangladesh   policies?   without a guarantee from HSBC,   some concerns on the macro   the repo and reverse repo rates at   we have too many banks. Now   trade logistics like roads and ports
 enough to explain 8+ growth.  On the inflation front, it was   petroleum, fertilizers and many of   time. Even if they are working full   considered unemployed. The   fine. The total amount of reserves   Bank doesn’t do anything then the   The other side of macroeconomics   Standard Chartered or some    stability outlook, it is slipping a   6.0 and 4.75 percent respectively.   because there is a limited market   need to function a lot better. Fourth
 Investment to GDP ratio has   within the targeted 5.5%. The   the food products we import, they   time, it doesn’t mean they are   definition of unemployment is not   that we have is still comfortable;   taka will depreciate so we start   is fiscal  and  monetary policies.   foreign correspondent bank. To get   little bit, but if they tighten and   Broad money growth is targeted at   with lots of institutions   is your human capital without
 been flat as evident from the   2018-2019 inflation outcome   are all linked with oil prices. The   productive in that work.  having a job but seeking one.   they can finance 5 and a half   selling dollars to keep taka stable.   On the fiscal front we have a very   a confirmation of your LC, you   take a few actions like allowing   12.5 percent, with domestic credit   competing, they take excessive   whom you cannot face the
 credit growth and capital   was exactly 5.5%. Food inflation   projection I have seen, oil prices   The concept of unemployment in   This is known as the discouraged   months of imports. But comfort   However, when you start doing   low debt to GDP ratio. All the   need to pay a fee and cost of trade   the exchange rate to be more   growth of 15.9 percent. The   risks. They are forced to do   challenges of the Fourth Industrial
 machinery import numbers,   was down which was the main   remaining between 65-70 dollars a   the textbook applies more to the   worker hypothesis.  Most of the   and complacency are two different   that you start destabilizing the   analyses that IMF does, all the   financing rises. They look at  NPL   flexible, revenue mobilization if   medium-term fiscal stance is   aggressive banking. The biggest   Revolution. We need to focus on
 which are supposed to be   reason why inflation was within   barrel, which is fairly standard,   formal sector, where we have the   women in the NEET category are   things. There is no reason for   reserves, because how long can   projections that we do suggest   ratio, interest income, return on   they try to improve particularly if   sustainable if taxation,   challenge is the structural reform.   STEM (Science, Technology,
 correlated with growth.   the target, but non-food   but of course if we have problems   manufacturing sector in a large or   perhaps young married women   complacency from this comfort. In   you sell off dollars with persistent   that the risk of public debt distress   equity and when they see they are   they can reduce the evasion in VAT   expenditure and deficit financing   Are we going to allow   Engineering Mathematics).


                                                                                                            49
                                                                                                 www.ibtbd.net
   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60