He said these while speaking as the chief guest at the event of ‘Bangladesh Innovation Fair 2026’ held at the auditorium of Novotheatre in Agargaon, the capital, on Monday (14 September).
The State Minister for Planning said that to make the country's development sustainable and dynamic, it is necessary to establish effective coordination and partnership among the government, business and industry sectors, and academia. Inter-ministerial coordination must be further strengthened in implementing development plans and projects.
He said that coordination between the Ministry of Planning and other ministries and divisions must be increased to stop overlapping and duplication in development projects. This will make it possible to ensure effective use of public resources as well as reduce time and cost in project implementation.
Zonaid Abdur Rahim Saki said that coordinated initiatives by the business-industry sector, academia and government can play an important role in the country's innovation and economic development. If research and innovation can be linked with the real demands of industry, opportunities to create new technologies, employment and entrepreneurs will increase.
Emphasizing the importance of increasing coordination between government and private/voluntary institutions, he said inclusive development must be accelerated through public-private partnership by ensuring optimal use of the same platforms and infrastructure.
He further said that a knowledge-based and technology-driven economy must be built by utilizing the innovative power of the youth. Such events will create opportunities for communication and exchange of experience among young innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, students and the industry sector.
Shikho CEO Shahir Chowdhury, BIIAN Chairman Syed Almas Kabir, Executive Chairman of the National Skills Development Authority Dr. Nazneen Kausar Chowdhury, Bank Asia DMD Akhtar Uddin Mahmud, Unilever Bangladesh Director Durdana Chowdhury, and North South University Professor Dr. Sajjad Hossain, among others, were present at the event.
