Preparations are underway to establish a one-stop service (OSS) centre by next March to facilitate local and foreign investors in the country's economic zones (EZs).
The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) is setting up the OSS with the support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The BEZA disclosed this at a seminar styled 'One-Stop Service (OSS) for Investors at Economic Zones', held at a city hotel on Wednesday.
Principal coordinator (SDG) under the Prime Minister's Office Md Abul Kalam Azad was present as the chief guest at the event chaired by BEZA executive chairman Paban Chowdhury.
Senior commerce secretary Shubhashish Bose, JICA senior country representative Yoshibumi Bito and Japan External Trade Organisation country representative Daisuke Arai, among others, spoke.
Stakeholders, including investors, government officials and partner organisations, took part in the seminar.
Addressing the guests, Mr Chowdhury said the BEZA has already started taking necessary preparations to provide different service under one roof.
"We expect to launch the OSS much earlier than the scheduled time of March 2019," he added.
The official said the OSS centre, to be established at the BEZA headquarters, will be operational on a trial basis from next month.
The BEZA is currently providing 11 types of instant services for the investors, he mentioned.
Mr Chowdhury said they are set to bring a significant improvement of investment climate in Bangladesh through local and global partners.
Officials representing various government authorities will be liable to provide the service promptly under the relevant law, he maintained.
Through the OSS, investors will get 123 types of approvals and licences of 27 categories at one place within a short period of time.
Meanwhile, Mr Azad said the country will enter a new era through the launching of the OSS next March.
It will also help the country become a suitable destination for foreign direct investment, he hoped.
Mr Azad also thanked JICA officials for extending their support through a project for establishment and management of the BEZA OSS centre.
JICA project team leader Akihito Morinaga made a presentation on the OSS.
He said the BEZA itself will provide some of the services, including investment approval, building construction and work permit, at the OSS.
Representatives of various government agencies at the OSS will give approvals and licences, including Tax/VAT registration, fire licence, environmental clearance, boiler installation and customs clearance.
Through another presentation, BEZA general manager Shoheler Rahman Chowdhury briefed the guests on the economic zones developed so far.
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