176 businesspeople to get CIP status

The government has selected 176 businesspeople to bestow the commercially important person (CIP) title recognising their contributions in merchandise export and vital roles in trade bodies.

Of those selected, 138 made their mark in exports while the rest are leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) as per a CIP (export) rules of 2013, according to a December 7 commerce ministry gazette.

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Some FBCCI directors are nominated directors of prominent chambers, associations and groups.

The selection was based on export earnings, employment creation, working conditions, payment to workers and employees, tax payments, innovation in marketing, technology use in product manufacturing and management.

The export category CIPs are from sectors dealing in jute, leather and associated goods, woven and knit garments, specialised and home textile, fabrics, agricultural products, processed and frozen food and pharmaceuticals.

Others focus on light engineering goods, handicrafts, ceramic products, plastic goods, computer software and miscellaneous.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said the date and venue for presenting the CIP title cards would be fixed very soon.

Asked, the minister said exports were rebounding sharply with the recovery of the global supply chain from the severe fallouts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I am hopeful that the positive trend of export will continue as the demand for locally made apparel items is rising globally," Munshi also said.

So far, Omicron, the latest variant of Covid-19, has not proved as dangerous as earlier variants as the reports are saying, he said, adding that therefore it was expected that there would not be any devastating impact on exports from the country in the coming days.

Moreover, the capacity of local exporters has reached such high standards that they are now capable of facing similar disasters as has already been proven in the early days of Covid-19, the minister said.

The CIP status will be valid for one year. However, the CIPs can use the cards until the next group is named.

On expiry of the validity, those will have to be returned to the commerce ministry, said the gazette.  In case of nominated directors of the FBCCI, the CIP cardholders will be able to enjoy the benefits of the status as long as they remain in the trade bodies or until announcement of the next status, whichever is applicable, said the gazette.

Every CIP will get to enjoy some government-sponsored benefits such as being able to enter Bangladesh Secretariat using vehicle stickers and get invited to national programmes and receptions accorded to citizens by city corporations and municipalities.

The foreign ministry will send letters of introduction to embassies concerned in favour of the CIPs whenever they travel abroad while the CIPs can also enjoy VIP lounges at airports.

The CIPs will also get priority in booking seats in public transport like airlines, railway, buses and water vessels, the gazette also said.

Moreover, their children and wives can avail cabins in public hospitals on a priority basis.