Four more EPZ products to enter local market

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Syful Islam The government has decided to allow entry of four more items produced by units under the Export Processing Zones (EPZs) to the local market by paying applicable duties, trade officials said Thursday. With the four new products, the total number of EPZ goods entering the duty area now stands at 108. These items are usually exported abroad instead of selling in the local market. A meeting at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Wednesday gave the nod to the products - MF battery, camp cot, camping chair, and foam. Three companies earlier applied to the government to allow these items to enter the local market. A maximum 10 per cent of the previous year's export volume of each of the products will be allowed in the local market, the meeting decided. According to the meeting discussion, the MF battery, produced in the Ishwardi EPZ by using the latest technology, is environment-friendly and long-lasting. The product is being exported to 33 countries, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Cambodia, the Philippines, the UAE, Yemen, Angola, Spain, and Greece. This kind of battery is not manufactured in areas outside the EPZs, and is imported from Singapore to meet the substantial local demand of foreign missions and premium customers. Trade officials said with the permission to enter in the duty area local customers will get the product at low cost and within a short time. The camp cot and camping chair, produced in the Chittagong EPZ, are exported to countries like the US, the UK, Canada, Mexico, and Germany. The products, however, have substantial demand among the foreign ministry, armed forces, and many other local organisations of public and private sectors. According to the meeting, foam is produced in the Karnaphuli EPZ. Presently the high standard product is imported from China, Vietnam and India for using in production of shoe, shoe-shiner, bag and home textile. According to the rules, goods, produced in the EPZs, are exported abroad and not allowed to sell in the local market. However, following the local businessmen's plea the government in September 1995 had formed a five-member committee, headed by the PMO's principal secretary, to allow some goods of the EPZs in the local market, through paying applicable duties and taxes. The committee had decided that not more than 10 per cent of the previous year's export volume of the products would be allowed in the local market.