Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Asif Ibrahim speaks at a press conference at the DCCI conference room in Dhaka on Tuesday. — New Age photo

Demanding reconsideration of some budget proposals, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Asif Ibrahim on Tuesday feared that the possible political instability might put budget implementation at risk.
‘I think, we all should determine the future directives giving top priority to political stability,’ he told a press conference at the DCCI conference room.
The chamber president identified three basic challenges that are shortage of energy, infrastructure and availability of credit with affordable interest rate for the smooth investment in the private sector.
The DCCI arranged the press conference to give its official reaction over the proposed budget for fiscal 2012-2013. The DCCI directors were also present.
Asif Ibrahim said the proposed budget did not have any short-term plan to increase domestic and foreign investment despite having some specific directives or policies to expand business.
Responding to a question on black money whitening, he said, ‘Investment is very important. It’s better to have some terms and condition regarding investment of undisclosed money.’
‘So’, Asif said, ‘If anybody says he’ll create employment opportunities for at least 500 people only in that case undisclosed money investment can be allowed at 10 per cent tax or with penalty.’
Replying to another question, he said tax net would have to be expanded to give a boost to revenue generation. ‘The number of 30 lakh TIN (tax identification number) holders is too small in a country of about 16 crore people.’
He suggested increasing the tax-free income limit at individual level from the proposed Tk 1.80 to Tk 2.50 lakh considering the price hike of essentials and soaring inflation.
On budget deficit, which is 5 per cent of the GDP (gross domestic
product), Asif said the production would be hampered if the government borrows money from the banking sector to address the budget deficit like the outgoing fiscal. ‘It’s a big challenge for the coming budget.’
He said the proposed hike of tax at source (1.2 per cent) on all types of
export items would be a big challenge and the net impact on the RMG exporters would be 6 per cent since the government has formulated new wage structure for the workers.
He demanded specific policy support, infrastructure development, and gas and electricity connection to the industrial units and easy access to required credit for the investment.
The chamber identified 17 positive sides of the proposed budget against 16 negative proposals and placed 26 recommendations related to policy, income tax, value-added tax and import for the government’s reconsideration.
The DCCI president said the entrepreneurs expect a commitment from the government regarding investment surety, continuity and consistency of policies.