Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu on Wednesday said 100 eco-friendly Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are being set up in Bangladesh in keeping with the government’s green industry and sustainable development philosophy.
The Bangladesh government has also undertaken widespread reforms in the industrial sector, particularly in the readymade garment (RMG) and leather industries, to prioritize a low-carbon emission economy, he added as quoted by UNB.
Minister Amu made the remarks at the 5th Green Industry Conference for Sustainable Development being held in Bangkok. The conference, jointly organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), began yesterday and is set to end on Friday.
"Our government is setting up 100 eco-friendly Special Economic Zones with government sponsored green industrial standards for effluent treatment plants and water treatment plants. We are also pursuing a green financing and green banking policy to finance low-carbon and resource-efficient small and medium enterprises and the supply value chains of our RMG industry," the minister said, speaking at the ministerial panel on “Regional Perspectives on Green Industry Policy.”
Ministers from 15 countries in the Asia and Pacific, including Myanmar, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Albania, Armenia, Mongolia, and Thailand participated on the panel, said the Bangladesh Embassy in Bangkok.
Industries Minister Amu is currently in Thailand on a two-day official visit. He is scheduled to meet with his Thai counterpart today.
Earlier, Amu held a bilateral meeting with UNIDO Director General Li Yong, at the UNESCAP Secretariat.
The minister thanked UNIDO for its sustained partnership with Bangladesh over the last two decades, and invited new technical collaboration projects to upgrade the National Meteorology Laboratory, implement effective waste management for the leather and leather goods industry, and develop a “green industry” policy for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, Saida Muna Tasneem, and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, AM Mansurul Alam, were also present at the meetings.
