DHAKA, Sept 15, 2020 (BSS) – The contribution of Bangladesh Export
Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) in national export has increased in the
fiscal 2019-20.
The operational enterprises of eight EPZs under BEPZA exported goods worth
US$ 6.49 billion in the last fiscal 2019-20 which was 19.27 percent of the
total national export of the country.
BEPZA’s share to the national export was 18.56 percent in the previous
fiscal 2018-19, said a press release today.
The corona pandemic has caused disruptions to global trade and business.
Bangladesh has been equally affected by this contagion. The export sector of
the country especially has received huge work order cancellations. During
lockdown period of over two months, the economic activities were almost
stagnant. As a result, the national export of the country has been decreased
from US$ 40.54 billion to US$ 33.67 billion.
However, the contribution of EPZs to the national export has increased
comparing to the previous year due to taking some pragmatic and timely steps.
BEPZA tried its best to keep the production uninterrupted maintaining
social distance and other health hygiene rules. BEPZA encouraged and
supported the factories who desired to produce Personal Protective Equipments
(PPE) to meet the needs of the time.
Mentionable, 475 operational and 74 under implementation enterprises have
invested $5.29 billion till June 2020 in the eight EPZs of the country. The
cumulative export from the EPZs stood at US$ 80.58 billion. 4,66,307
Bangladeshi nationals are producing diversified products of various world
famous brand.