A K M Kamal Uddin Chowdhury
DHAKA, March 3, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) has
received investment proposals amounting to around US Dollar 20.50 billion from
151 local and foreign business entities thanks to various steps of government
to attract new investments, officials said.
BEZA is responsible for establishing and managing of state-run special
economic zones (SEZs) across the country.
Out of the investment proposals, top officials of BEZA said, around $2.80
billion has already been invested in different SEZs.
Around $4.808 billion will come as foreign direct investment (FDI) from different companies in Japan, China, South Korea, India, Thailand, Australia, the UK, the Netherland
and the USA.
World-famous companies like Honda Motors, Sumitomo Nippon, Asian Paints,
Barger Paints, Adani Group, Wilmar, Yabang, Siam Group, TIC Group, Unilever,
Sakata Inch and Chain Harbour are the major foreign investors.
Talking to BSS recently, BEZA Executive Chairman Paban Chowdhury said
beyond these investment proposals, many world-renowned foreign companies are
coming with big investment offers. “We’ve already developed eight state-run
SEZs as per a move to make the country an industrial hub in the world,”
Chowdhury informed.
The zones, he said, are – Mirsarai Economic Zone, Mirsarai Economic Zone
2A, Mirsarai Economic Zone 2B, Feni Economic Zone and SBG Economic Zone under
the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar (BSMSN), Jamalpur Economic Zone,
Shreehatta Economic Zone and Mongla Economic Zone.
The BEZA executive chairmen said many entrepreneurs from home and abroad
have already started construction works of their industrial units in the
economic zones, while many are taking preparations to set up factories there.
He mentioned that the government is providing all sorts of facilities to
the economic zones to ensure investment-friendly environment. “Both local and
foreign businesses who will invest in the economic zones will enjoy the same
facilities,” he added.
Chowdhury went on saying that Jinyuan Chemical Industry Limited, a sister
concern of the Chinese ZhuzhouJinyuan Chemical Industry Company Limited, has
already set up their factory in the BSMSN at Mirsarai, Sitakundu and Sonagazi
upazillas under Chattogram and Feni districts.
“We hope that at least 20 companies will start their construction works
within this year,” he said.
The BEZA executive chairman said the development works of another seven
state-owned SEZs are going at a quicker pace to attract both foreign and
local investors.
“We’re also planning to establish another 14 state-owned SEZs across the
country,” he said.
Of them, the feasibility study of two SEZs – Netrokona Economic Zone and
Bogura Economic Zone – has already been completed, he added.
Another 12 other SEZs which is mulling to be set up are – Gopalgonj EZ-1 in
Kotalipara upazila under Gopalganj district, Sitakundo Economic Zone, Tangail
Economic Zone, Manikganj Economic Zone, Bhola Economic Zone, Nababganj
Economic Zone, Sylhet Special Economic Zone, Chandpur Economic Zone, Jamalpur
Economic Zone-2, Nilphamari Economic Zone, Araihazar Economic Zone-2 and
Panchagarh Economic Zone, he continued.
Chowdhury informed that the BEZA has already awarded pre-qualification
license to 20 private economic zones and of them, 11 were given final
license.
The private economic zones who obtained the final license are Meghna
Economic Zone, Abdul Monem Economic Zone, Aman Economic Zone, Bay Economic
Zone, Meghna Industrial Economic Zone, City Economic Zone, Sirajganj Economic
Zone, Karnaphuli Dry Dock Special Economic Zone, East West Special Economic
Zone, Kishoreganj Economic Zone and Hosendi Economic Zone, he said.
The BEZA chief said they have given pre-qualification license to the AK
Khan Economic Zone, Arisha Economic Zone, United City IT Park, Bashundara
Economic Zone, Sonargaon Economic Zone, Cumilla Economic Zone, Hamid Economic
Zone and Standard Global Economic Zone.
He said the economic zones have already created direct employment
opportunities for around 30,000 people, and through the proposed industrial
units, there will be direct employment scope for at least eight lakh people.
Chowdhury said BEZA has undertaken a plan to establish ‘Bhumi Bank’ so that
industrial development is not hindered in the next 50 years due to land
scarcity.
“We’ve already acquired 47,856.3350 acres of land for developing the 22
state-run EZs,” he said.