WB projects 6.7pc growth for Bangladesh

Bangladesh economy would grow at 6.7 per cent in 2018, thanks to the friendly fiscal measures and development initiatives, according to the latest report of the World Bank (WB).

The report, Global Economic Prospects, released in Washington on Wednesday, depicted a picture of the prospects and challenges of the global economy in 2018, reports BSS.

WB has forecasted global economic growth to edge up to 3.1 per cent in 2018 after a much stronger-than-expected 2017, as the recovery in investment, manufacturing, and trade continues.

“Growth in advanced economies is expected to moderate slightly to 2.2 per cent in 2018, as central banks gradually remove their post-crisis accommodation and the upturn in investment growth stabilises,” it added.

The international donor agency also said growth in emerging market and developing economies as a whole is projected to strengthen to 4.5 per cent in 2018, as activity in commodity exporters continues to recover amid firming prices.

Bangladesh government has set a target to achieve 7.4 per cent GDP growth for the current fiscal.

With this latest WB forecast, the multi-donor agency raised its economic outlook for Bangladesh again as it, earlier, said the GDP would grow by 6.4 per cent in 2017.

According to the report, Indian economy would grow by 7.3 per cent this year when the GDP growth in Afghanistan would be 3.4 per cent, Bhutan 6.9 per cent, the Maldives 4.9 per cent, Nepal 4.5 per cent, Pakistan 5.8 per cent and Sri Lanka 5 per cent.

Bangladesh’s growth forecast is the third highest among SAARC countries when the highest prediction was for India (7.3 per cent) and the lowest was for the Afghanistan (3.4 per cent).