Page 7 - IBT Full Pdf

FROM

THE

EDITOR

The December 2021 issue of ICE Business Times focuses on one of the main
pillars of Bangladesh's economy. Our real estate sector is now a Tk 58,000 crore
industry growing at a rate of 15% every year. Besides being one of the largest
contributors to the National GDP, the sector is one of the biggest employers in
the country. The issue explores how the industry turned itself around after the
initial disruption due to the pandemic and the factors that contributed to the
strong rebound.
The cover focus of the issue features an interview with M Habibul Basit, Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) at Shanta Holdings Ltd. He elaborately discusses the
industry's role in Bangladesh's economy and how Shanta is evolving to redefine
the country's benchmark for high-end real estate. Subsequently, the special
features of the company explicitly illustrate how Bangladesh's top real estate
companies adapted to the new normal and facilitated a rebound fueling growth
prospects.
The final issue of 2021 also explores how countries around the world are building
living spaces of the future. For example, Singapore has adopted a plan to
overhaul its infrastructure to facilitate sustainable living for the next five
decades. You can also read about the Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh's
latest initiative to boost foreign investment in the country through Sourcing Fair
2021. The feature on Global Chamber discusses how different countries are
trying to solve the impending pension crisis for the world's ageing population.
The Climate Corner has all the latest updates from this year's UN Climate Change
Conference. As world leaders desperately try to find a sustainable solution to
slow climate change, vulnerable communities across Bangladesh are losing their
homes and livelihoods. A photostory by Din M Shibly illustrates their sufferings.
We began this year with the hope of leaving behind the pandemic and moving
towards sustainable global development. While things have not panned out as
expected, we have made significant progress. According to Bloomberg, more
than 8.32 billion vaccine doses have been administered across 184 countries,
helping to bring down the death and hospitalisation rate in aggregate. The
Government of Bangladesh has done a remarkable job in administering the
vaccination process across the country and has successfully closed deals to
produce vaccines through collaborations locally. Schools have reopened,
businesses are hiring again, and Bangladesh's economy shows solid recovery
signs. We hope that the coming year will bring better days without any other
variant ransacking our lives. Happy New Year!