The country’s eight export processing zones experienced a healthy growth in both local and foreign direct investments as they were able to attract more than 29% investments in the first five months of the current fiscal year despite the prevailing political turmoil.
‘’Actual investments in the country’s eight EPZs increased by 29.38% to $154.47m in July-November period of the current fiscal year compared to $109.08m for the same time of 2012-13 fiscal year,’’ according to a Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authorities (BEPZA) statement.
Despite the country’s industrial sector suffers from various hostile situation, the investment scenario is still encouraging, claimed BEPZA in its statement.
According to BEPZA, in July-November 2013, Chittagong EPZ attracted a total of investment worth $32.14m, followed by Dhaka EPZ of $57.25m, Karnaphuli EPZ of $13.57m, Adamjee EPZ of $35.79m, , Comilla EPZ of $3.92m, Uttara EPZ of $6.22m, Ishwardi EPZ of $1.63 m and Mongla EPZ of $3.94m.
Meanwhile, the cumulative investment stood at $2940m up to November 2013 in the operating and also in under construction enterprises of the eight EPZs, the BEPZA statement said.
Apart from that, the BEPZA has already signed investment agreements worth $85.35m with nine new companies, which would set up their industrial units in the EPZs as soon as possible.
Of the agreements, five 100% foreign owned companies-three from China, one from United Kingdom and one from South Korea, two joint venture companies from China, Pakistan, Mauritius and Bangladesh and the rest two unitswill be fully Bangladeshi owned industrial units in the EPZs. These units will produce garments, garments accessories, tents and bags and tooth brushes and ball pens.
After the completion of all those units, it is expected to create job opportunity for 25,750 Bangladeshi nationals.
Currently, over 3.82 lakh Bangladeshi nationals are employed in a total of 425 industrial units in the country’s eight EPZs up to November 2013.