Ailing infrastructure, scarce land obstacles to setting up of SEZs
FE Report | Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Donors and experts at a discussion Monday said Bangladesh's ailing infrastructure and inadequate land are the major obstacles to setting up of the proposed special economic zones (SEZs).
At a discussion on "Special Economic Zones Deep Dive" at the Radisson hotel in Dhaka they made the observation.
The World Bank, Department for International Development (DFID) and European Commission jointly organised the three-day discussion.
World Bank representatives from 17 countries and government officials from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cambodia, Congo, Nepal, Indonesia and Jamaica attended the talks to share their experiences.
"Bangladesh has had infrastructure and land problems. It needs to develop those to set up the SEZs," said the International Finance Corporation (IFC) chief in Bangladesh James Crittle.
He said: "Some 40 per cent of the country's population, mostly women, are out of job. So, if the country fails to engage the huge women workforce in its economic activities, it will be difficult to achieve the millennium Development Goals (MDGs)."
Assuring IFC's support to Bangladesh, Mr Critlle said they would assist the country to establish the zones aimed at creating a secure job market.
The IFC country head said the SEZs could attract larger volume of foreign investments.
Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) Brig. Gen. Jamil Ahmed Khan said inadequate land was a big problem for setting up of the SEZs.
At a discussion on "Special Economic Zones Deep Dive" at the Radisson hotel in Dhaka they made the observation.
The World Bank, Department for International Development (DFID) and European Commission jointly organised the three-day discussion.
World Bank representatives from 17 countries and government officials from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cambodia, Congo, Nepal, Indonesia and Jamaica attended the talks to share their experiences.
"Bangladesh has had infrastructure and land problems. It needs to develop those to set up the SEZs," said the International Finance Corporation (IFC) chief in Bangladesh James Crittle.
He said: "Some 40 per cent of the country's population, mostly women, are out of job. So, if the country fails to engage the huge women workforce in its economic activities, it will be difficult to achieve the millennium Development Goals (MDGs)."
Assuring IFC's support to Bangladesh, Mr Critlle said they would assist the country to establish the zones aimed at creating a secure job market.
The IFC country head said the SEZs could attract larger volume of foreign investments.
Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) Brig. Gen. Jamil Ahmed Khan said inadequate land was a big problem for setting up of the SEZs.