Shibganj Municipality hosted a day-long regional campaign on "Local Economic Development Model (a customized model tailored for Bangladesh to enhance municipal competitiveness) and the Role of the Mango Sector in Economic Development" at the Shibganj Upazila Parishad premises on Tuesday.
The campaign was supported by the PRABRIDDHI - Local Economic Development (LED) Project, funded by the Government of Bangladesh and Switzerland, and implemented by the Local Government Division (LGD) and Swisscontact, says a press release.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Shibganj provided technical support to the event, highlighting innovative agricultural practices that drive economic progress.
Nine prominent mango trade-focused municipalities participated. They learned from Shibganj's best practices in advancing the mango sector and improving municipal services, which have significantly boosted the local economy.
The event aimed to foster peer learning among municipalities involved in mango trade by sharing Shibganj's achievements in the mango sector and showcasing its improved municipal services to enhance the business environment.
Prominent attendees of the event included Md. Azahar Ali, Administrator of Shibganj Municipality, Jiban Krishna Saha, Director General of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA); Md. Abdus Samad, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Chapainawabganj; Alamgir Kabir, Head of Business Administration at Swisscontact Bangladesh; and Dr. Md. Mokhlesur Rahman, Chief Scientific Officer at the Regional Horticulture and Research Center, Chapainawabganj.
The Administrator of Shibganj Municipality, Md. Azahar Ali, stated, "Today's regional campaign can be seen as an important milestone in the long-standing efforts to improve the local economy of Shibganj. As an example of increased productivity, market development, and the application of technology, it can guide other municipalities too".
The event featured various activities, including a Local Economic Development Seminar, a Mango Trade Fair, Business-to-Business (B2B) dialogues, a Gombhira (a traditional local drama), and several competitions targeting women entrepreneurs and youth. Participants also visited UHD and top-working mango farms to gain first-hand knowledge of advanced technologies.
Representatives from leading companies such as Shwapno, Pran Foods, Akij Food and Beverage, Meridian Group, Chapai Agro Food, and Group led the B2B discussions.
Dr. Md. Mokhlesur Rahman, Chief Scientific Officer, HCRC, Chapainawabganj, stated "Shibganj's pioneering use of advanced UHD technology in mango production is exemplary. Not only has it increased production, but the region has also made significant strides in establishing an effective marketing process, creating opportunities for year-round mango exports and expanding the global export network".
Alamgir Kabir, Head of Business Administration at Swisscontact, noted that "Since 2018, PRABRIDDHI have been working with Shibganj Municipality to enhance their local initiative planning and implementation capacity. As a result, Shibganj has already become a model municipality for local economic development."
