PM opens 50 industrial units in economic zones, Today, the Economic Zones (EZs) across the nation saw the inauguration of 50 industrial units, projects, and facilities by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. To commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the nation’s Independence and the 100th birthday of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she virtually opened the industrial establishments in the EZs from her official Ganabhaban residence this morning.
PM opens 50 industrial units in economic zones
Four factories at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar (BSMSN) in Chattogram and eight factories in different private EZs were launched among the 50 industrial facilities. These industrial units have already invested over US$967.73 million in the economic-zones and will make further investments of nearly $331.27 million. The premier laid the foundation stone of 29 industrial units in different EZs, which have so far invested $610 million and are in the process to invest $1,922.39 million more.
Administration buildings of BSMSN, Jamalpur economic-zone, Srihatta EZ, and Sabrang Tourism Park were inaugurated as well. The prime minister also formally opened the 20-kilometre Sheikh Hasina Sarani, 230-KVA gridline and substation at the BSMSN and laid the foundation stone of a water treatment plant having 50 million litres per day (MLD) capacity.
Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, PM’s Private Industry and Investment adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Chattogram-1 constituency lawmaker Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Vice-Chairman of the Bashundhara Group Safwan Sobhan spoke at the function at BSMSN end in Chattogram.
Bangladesh economic-zones Authority (BEZA) Executive Chairman Shaikh Yusuf Harun gave the address of welcome. A video documentary on the development activities of the BEZA was screened at the function. BEZA aims to establish economic-zones in all potential areas in Bangladesh, including backward and underdeveloped regions, with a view to encouraging rapid economic development through the increase and diversification of industry, employment, production and export.
Of the planned 100 economic-zones, the government has approved 97 economic zones, 28 of which are currently under development. So far, 12 privately owned economic-zones have received licenses to operate and nearly $4 billion have been invested in these economic zones.
The economic zones are intended to, directly and indirectly, employ 10 million people. Additionally, it is anticipated that these economic-zones will yearly produce $40 billion in export goods. In the economic-zones, investors can benefit from tax holidays and duty-free imports of machinery and raw materials. From a variety of nations, including Japan, China, India, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, America, the United Kingdom, Singapore, South Korea, and Norway, the economic zones have drawn foreign direct investments.