Bangladesh tops India in sustainable competitiveness | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Food
    • Habitat
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Friday
December 01, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Food
    • Habitat
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2023
Bangladesh tops India in sustainable competitiveness

Economy

Mursalin Hossain
05 December, 2020, 10:05 pm
Last modified: 06 December, 2020, 02:01 am

Related News

  • KPST Shoes makes export as first firm from Bepza Economic Zone
  • No AL 'independent' candidate running against AHM Mustafa Kamal, Md Tajul Islam in Cumilla
  • Why a murder plot will not turn the US away from India
  • Election in 5 states in India: BJP winning in two, Congress winning in two
  • PM for putting climate change victims in charge of fighting its impact

Bangladesh tops India in sustainable competitiveness

With a global ranking of 115th, Bangladesh widened its lead against Pakistan and Afghanistan in South Asia, but neighbours Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives are still far ahead

Mursalin Hossain
05 December, 2020, 10:05 pm
Last modified: 06 December, 2020, 02:01 am

Bangladesh has overtaken India in the Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index 2020 (GSCI) by showing a significant improvement in utilising its resources more efficiently. Besides, the country leaped 17 notches ahead in the index, while India moved only three.

With a global ranking of 115th out of 180 countries, Bangladesh widened its lead against Pakistan (174th) and Afghanistan (178th) in South Asia this year. However, the neighbours Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives and Sri Lanka remain far ahead of Bangladesh.

Sustainable competitiveness is the ability to generate and sustain inclusive wealth, without compromising the future capability of sustaining or increasing current wealth levels. Bangladesh scored 43.3 out 100 in the GSCI 2020, improving the score by 4.2 from last year.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Sweden topped in the ranking globally, followed by Iceland, Denmark and Finland, revealed the 9th edition of the GSCI published by SolAbility – a Swiss-Korean joint-venture and sustainable intelligence think-tank – on Friday.

Scores across pillars

The national competitiveness ranking is based on 127 quantitative indicators, drawn from UN agencies, World Bank, IMF and Transparency International, and grouped in five pillars – natural capital, social capital, intellectual capital, governance and resource intensity.

Bangladesh has shown substantial improvements in resource intensity and natural capital. The country improved the highest in resource intensity, achieving 60.82 points compared to 48.7 in 2019, which means Bangladesh used resources more efficiently this year.

Besides, the country received 40.14 points in natural capital compared to 30.8 in 2019. This pillar indicates the availability of natural resources, and the level of depletion/degradation of such resources.

Bangladesh however lost points in social capital and governance in the GSCI 2020 compared to the previous edition.

The country scored 41.47 points (dropping from 42.1) in the social capital, which considers a country's health performance indicators, birth statistics, income differences, equal opportunities (gender, economic), freedom of press, human rights considerations, the level of crime against both possession and humans, and perceived levels of well-being and happiness.

Bangladesh also dropped to 54.20 points (from 55.5 in 2019) this year in governance, which measures the results of core state areas and investments – infrastructure, market and employment structure, and the provision of a framework for sustained and sustainable wealth generation.

Despite narrow improvement from 18.5 to 19.87 in intellectual capital, Bangladesh has achieved the lowest score in this pillar. Indicating that the country's capability to generate wealth and jobs through innovation and value-added industries in globalised markets is still lacking.

All the South Asian countries, including Afghanistan, also scored higher than Bangladesh in this pillar.

Responding to a query about the issue, Policy Research Institute's Executive Director Dr Ahsan H Mansur said, "Bangladesh has a very minimum level of innovation, research and development. Moreover, Bangladesh's technology complexity is one of the simplest ones.

"We use the simplest technology in every sector. For example, in the RMG sector, we are still in the first step of manufacturing – cutting and sewing."

Voicing his recommendations to improve the situation, Dr Mansur said, "We have to improve labour productivity. Our resources are limited, and so are innovation opportunities. So, by increasing foreign investment, we can create opportunities to use new technology.

"Foreign investors can bring in new technology to our country through investment."

He added that Eastern Asian countries such as China, Japan and South Korea is taking the lead from the Western nations in terms of technology and innovation.

It should be noted that Bangladesh is set to overtake India in terms of per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in fiscal year 2020-21, according to the latest projection of the International Monetary Fund.

GSCI in South Asia

Nepal (53rd) ranked top in GSCI 2020 among the neighbouring countries. Bhutan (55th) ranked second, followed by the Maldives (65th) and Sri Lanka (86th). Meanwhile, Bangladesh became fifth by overtaking India (127th).

In the previous edition of the GSCI published in December 2019, Bangladesh was two places behind India with a ranking of 132th. The think tank has been publishing the report since 2012, while Bangladesh has been improving in the ranking since 2016.

Pakistan (174th) and Afghanistan (178th) are the bottom two countries in the region.

Top News

Bangladesh / India / Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index 2020 (GSCI)

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Girls outperform boys in SSC and HSC. What prevents them from climbing higher? 
    Girls outperform boys in SSC and HSC. What prevents them from climbing higher? 
  • KPST Shoes makes export as first firm from Bepza Economic Zone
    KPST Shoes makes export as first firm from Bepza Economic Zone
  • Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Sketch: TBS
    PM for putting climate change victims in charge of fighting its impact

MOST VIEWED

  • Illustration: TBS
    I am afraid even to post a thank you note on Facebook: Khadija
  • File photo of Bangladesh Bank. Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS
    Remitters can now deposit in forex – with up to 9% interest
  • Mominul Islam. File Photo: Courtesy
    IPDC CEO Mominul to step down after 4 terms
  • Despite some positives like, changes in wordings the major things workers demand have not been reflected in the amendments. Photo: TBS
    Bangladesh could be target of US labour policy, warns Washington mission
  • Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin
    Bangabandhu Tunnel: Tk4.11 crore in toll collected in first month
  • File Photo: Reuters
    Dollar rate cut again, by Tk0.25, within a week

Related News

  • KPST Shoes makes export as first firm from Bepza Economic Zone
  • No AL 'independent' candidate running against AHM Mustafa Kamal, Md Tajul Islam in Cumilla
  • Why a murder plot will not turn the US away from India
  • Election in 5 states in India: BJP winning in two, Congress winning in two
  • PM for putting climate change victims in charge of fighting its impact

Features

Girls outperform boys in SSC and HSC. What prevents them from climbing higher? 

Girls outperform boys in SSC and HSC. What prevents them from climbing higher? 

1h | Panorama
Kissinger’s foreign policy and courses of action during his active years in office altered the lives of millions across the world. PHOTO: COLLECTED

Kissinger: A quiet end to a bloody legacy

5h | Panorama
TBS Sketch

‘Furniture export climate not the best it can be’

17m | Panorama
Photo: Nayem Ali

Falling into brown

21h | Features

More Videos from TBS

Is USA the obstacle to WB's climate finance?

Is USA the obstacle to WB's climate finance?

14h | TBS Economy
Expatriates can now deposit in forex

Expatriates can now deposit in forex

15h | TBS Economy
How much aid has entered Gaza?

How much aid has entered Gaza?

17h | TBS World
The maximum interest rate for NBFI loans is 13.18%

The maximum interest rate for NBFI loans is 13.18%

18h | TBS Economy
EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]