Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday said the government would take adequate measures to support the agriculture-based industry in the upcoming budget.

The economy largely depends on agriculture. “So the government will prioritise the agro-based sector in the budget,” Muhith said at a pre-budget discussion with a delegation of the International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB).

The minister also urged business leaders to invest in agro-based business such as automatic rice mills, multi-purpose cold stores, IBFB said in a statement.

A 20-member team of IBFB met Muhith to submit proposals for the 2012-2013 budget.

The IBFB delegates raised issues adversely affecting the growth and development of business and economy. They urged the government to take steps to reduce bank interest rates to protect the local industry.

Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury, the founder president of IBFB, led the delegation and discussed the issues affecting the business community and economy.