Private EPZs policy framed
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Doulot Akter Mala
The government has framed a policy for setting up new plants in the private export processing zones (EPZs) allowing investment in 14 categories of industries, including pharmaceutical, electrical, leather and backward linkage units for production of textiles.
Private EPZ board of governors recently approved the policy with the guidelines for new investors and companies.
The board of governors has framed rules for entrepreneurs to follow at the time of submitting application for investment in private EPZs.
There is an act called 'The Bangladesh Private Export Processing Zones', framed in 1996. But the act does not have any specific policy or rules for investors to set up industries.
Officials said under the policy the intending investors have to furnish some necessary information, including time for starting and completion of investment and feasibly study of the respective industry.
The industries include electrical and electronics items, software development, IT, scientific instruments and precision tools, jewelry, engineering products and equipment, leather products and shoes, bags, jackets etc, sports goods and toy, footwear, backward linkage for textile, pharmaceutical products, agro-based industries, organic fertiliser production, garden and firm equipment, ceramic, agro construction material and agro port related services and business.
Investors, willing to set up other category of industries, will have to take prior approval from the board of governors, the policy said.
However, the policy has restricted setting up of four types of industries that include arms and other military equipment and machinery, nuclear power, and security printing.
There will be a space for central effluent treatment plant (ETP). All large industries must have separate ETP that will be connected with the central ETP, the policy said.
The private EPZ policy for establishing industries incorporated some rules such as taking environmental clearance certificate, setting up of waste disposal plant etc., which will protect environment from industrial pollution.
EPZ authority can lease out land to the investors for 30 years, which will be renewable, the policy said.
Other rules of the policy include sufficient measures against fire incidence and hostels for women.
Currently, there are eight export processing zones in the country. Of them, Korean EPZ (KEPZ) is the largest private EPZ in the country.
The government has framed a policy for setting up new plants in the private export processing zones (EPZs) allowing investment in 14 categories of industries, including pharmaceutical, electrical, leather and backward linkage units for production of textiles.
Private EPZ board of governors recently approved the policy with the guidelines for new investors and companies.
The board of governors has framed rules for entrepreneurs to follow at the time of submitting application for investment in private EPZs.
There is an act called 'The Bangladesh Private Export Processing Zones', framed in 1996. But the act does not have any specific policy or rules for investors to set up industries.
Officials said under the policy the intending investors have to furnish some necessary information, including time for starting and completion of investment and feasibly study of the respective industry.
The industries include electrical and electronics items, software development, IT, scientific instruments and precision tools, jewelry, engineering products and equipment, leather products and shoes, bags, jackets etc, sports goods and toy, footwear, backward linkage for textile, pharmaceutical products, agro-based industries, organic fertiliser production, garden and firm equipment, ceramic, agro construction material and agro port related services and business.
Investors, willing to set up other category of industries, will have to take prior approval from the board of governors, the policy said.
However, the policy has restricted setting up of four types of industries that include arms and other military equipment and machinery, nuclear power, and security printing.
There will be a space for central effluent treatment plant (ETP). All large industries must have separate ETP that will be connected with the central ETP, the policy said.
The private EPZ policy for establishing industries incorporated some rules such as taking environmental clearance certificate, setting up of waste disposal plant etc., which will protect environment from industrial pollution.
EPZ authority can lease out land to the investors for 30 years, which will be renewable, the policy said.
Other rules of the policy include sufficient measures against fire incidence and hostels for women.
Currently, there are eight export processing zones in the country. Of them, Korean EPZ (KEPZ) is the largest private EPZ in the country.