The export earnings by the enterprises under Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) recorded over 15% growth in the fiscal 2012-13 despite having adverse situation in country’s industrial sector. Employment grew by about 6%.
The contribution from the EPZs to the total national exports rose to US$4.9bn in 2012-13, which is 18% higher as compared to the previous year. Export earnings by the enterprises outperformed the period’s target of $4.5bn. The export earnings were $4.2bn in 2011-12.
“Despite of various adverse situations in country’s industrial sector, the export, investment and employment scenario is shining in the operating industrial units of EPZs,” said the authority in a statement issued yesterday.
In 2012-13, Chittagong EPZ contributed $2.1bn in exports while Dhaka EPZ $1.8bn, Karnaphuli EPZ $380m, Adamjee EPZ $274m, Comilla EPZ $177m, Mongla EPZ $74m, Iswardi EPZ $56m and Uttara EPZ $20m.
In the year, enterprises of BEPZA made investment of $328m, which was $339m in the previous fiscal year. The investment decline by over 3% compared to the 2011-12 fiscal.
Due to scarcity of land, BEPZA is unable to accommodate large scale investment in EPZs, resulting in less progress in investment, said BEPZA.
A total of 419 industrial units in the country’s eight EPZs employed 35,569 Bangladeshi nationals in 2012-13, which is about 6% up compared to the previous year.
The operating industrial units of EPZs have generated jobs for 375,590 Bangladeshi nationals up to June 2013.
Currently, a total of 143 industrial units are under implementation stage in the EPZs. Among the 419 operating units 237 are 100% foreign, 61 joint venture and 121 under fully Bangladeshi ownerships.
