Bid to carry out sector-wise research to support businesses

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) under the University of Dhaka to carry out sector-wise research to help businesses thrive.

Rizwan Rahman, president of the chamber, and Prof Mohammad Abdul Momen, director of the IBA, inked the agreement at the DCCI headquarters yesterday, according to a press release.

Speaking at the event, Momen said the research facilities at the universities in Bangladesh were still unexplored and under-utilised.

He urged the private sector to invest for the expansion of university research for the sake of industrial development.

Both the DCCI and the IBA will conduct sector-wise business research activities and organise job fairs, seminars, workshops, and business conferences.

As per the cooperation agreement, training courses will be arranged for the DCCI, and the chamber will provide internship opportunities to the students of the IBA.

Rahman underscored a need-based curriculum as per the demand of the industry. "It is time to bridge the gap between the industrial sector and the academia in this era of rapid industrialisation."

"Skill development is the priority area of the government and the private sector. We must have better skills in every sector to compete on the international stage," he said.

Rahman called for extensive research and development works under the universities so that they could contribute to the economy.

Momen backed greater collaboration between industry and academia.

"To cope up with the changing global geo-political and technological transformation, we have to be competitive in terms of skills and education."

He gave the examples of some successful countries such as the US, Germany and Korea that are utilising their universities for extensive research and innovation activities.

NKA Mobin, senior vice-president of the DCCI, Monowar Hossain, vice-president, and Golam Zilani, a director, were present.