With the approval of the Prime Minister Office (PMO), the Land Ministry has allotted 4,835.91 acres of 'khas' land in favour of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) for setting up Noakhali Economic Zone (EZ) at Companiganj upazila under Noakhali district, reports BSS.
The District Administration of Noakhali has already sent a proposal to BEZA for setting up another economic zone near the Noakhali EZ at Subarnachar upazila under the district.
Talking to BSS, BEZA Executive Chairman Paban Chowdhury said there has been immense potential to connect Noakhali and Subarnachar economic zones with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar (BSMSN).
Expressing gratitude towards Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said this was a significant step towards planned industrialization in the country.
He said BEZA has been endeavouring to establish economic zones in potential areas of the country with a view to encouraging rapid economic development through diversification of industries and augmentation of employment, production and export.
Chowdhury informed that the BEZA governing board has already approved the locations and amount of land for 97 economic zones, of which 68 were public economic zones and 29 were private economic zones.
Out of the economic zones, he said, nine zones have already gone into production while the development of 28 zones have been progressing fast. He informed that 26 industries have gone into production while construction work of 35 industries have been ongoing.
The economic zones have already created 39 thousand employment opportunities, he added. Informing that BEZA has received investment proposals amounting to around US$ 27.07 billion from local and foreign business entities, the BEZA chief thanked various steps of the government to attract new investment.
The proposed investments might create over 1.0 million job opportunities in the country, he mentioned.
Out of the total amount, he said, around $23.97 billion investment proposals have come for the government EZs while $3.1 billion for private EZs. Of those, he informed, around $1.62 billion proposals have come as foreign direct investment (FDI) from different companies of China, India, the UK, the USA, the Netherlands, Japan, Singapore, Australia, South Korea, Malaysia and Germany.
World-famous companies such as Jiangsu Yabang Dyestuff Co Ltd, Honda Motors, Sumitomo Nippon, Asian Paints, Berger Paints, Adani Group, Wilmar, Siam Group, TIC Group, Unilever, Sakata Inch, Jiehong Medical Products (BD) Co Ltd, CCECC Bangladesh Limited, HAS Tech Limited, RamkyEnviro Services Private Limited Fortis Group, Lizard Sports BV, Inter-Asia Group Limited and Chain Harbour are the major foreign investors.
Among local companies - Metro Spinning Limited, Maksons Spinning and Textiles, Samuda Food Products Limited, Uttara Motors Limited, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Sayeman Beach Resort Limited, Maf Shoes Limited, Bangladesh Garments Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA), Runner Motors, Saif Powertec, Delta Pharma Limited and Asia Composite Mills Limited - are the major local investors.
