Problems discourage Ishurdi EPZ investors
Friday, 19 September 2008
Monjuara Khatun
RAJSHAHI, Sept 18: Ishurdi Export Processing Zone situated at Paksey under Pabna district, the only EPZ in the north-western region of the country, could not start operation in full swing due to various problems.
The executives of the EPZ, however, are very optimistic about the bright prospect of the EPZ which, they think, would contribute a lot to the national economy.
But, the non-effectiveness of the Mongla port, absence of railway container service, closure of Ishurdi air port and excessive toll on vehicles over the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge(JMB) are some of the bottlenecks that failing to draw foreign and local investors in the EPZ.
According to sources, out of 158 plots, industries in only four are now fully operational and seven others are now on the pipeline while 20 -more are awaiting approval. The four running industries are: Indian Sun Copper Limited, Venerable Plastic reprocessing industries (Bangladesh) limited, Bangladesh-China Joint venture Kaysun Suliao pet plastic bottle reprocessing industries and Roshida Knitwear pvt. limited. Six other industries among seven are waiting to start operation within a short time, these are: seven units of Rahim Afrooz, Autralia-Bangladesh joint venture company Menticore, Indian Goldshine company, Eco-polymer limited, Sree Lankan-BD joint venture liquid glucose manufacturing company Messers EI and M limited and Delicious Water Products limited.
One of the investors at Ishurdi EPZ while talking to this correspondent informed, the distance from Chittagong sea port was one of the prime reasons that the foreign and local investors are discouraged to set up industries in Ishurdi EPZ. He said, Chittagong port is situated 484 kilometre away from Ishurdi and there is no direct train communication from there.
Another major cause is the excessive amount of toll at the Jamuna bridge followed by the absence of effective and speedy air communication with Ishurdi to other places of the country. He further suggested that by making the Mongla port operational, the distance can be reduced to 280 kilometre (from Mongla-Ishurdi).
RAJSHAHI, Sept 18: Ishurdi Export Processing Zone situated at Paksey under Pabna district, the only EPZ in the north-western region of the country, could not start operation in full swing due to various problems.
The executives of the EPZ, however, are very optimistic about the bright prospect of the EPZ which, they think, would contribute a lot to the national economy.
But, the non-effectiveness of the Mongla port, absence of railway container service, closure of Ishurdi air port and excessive toll on vehicles over the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge(JMB) are some of the bottlenecks that failing to draw foreign and local investors in the EPZ.
According to sources, out of 158 plots, industries in only four are now fully operational and seven others are now on the pipeline while 20 -more are awaiting approval. The four running industries are: Indian Sun Copper Limited, Venerable Plastic reprocessing industries (Bangladesh) limited, Bangladesh-China Joint venture Kaysun Suliao pet plastic bottle reprocessing industries and Roshida Knitwear pvt. limited. Six other industries among seven are waiting to start operation within a short time, these are: seven units of Rahim Afrooz, Autralia-Bangladesh joint venture company Menticore, Indian Goldshine company, Eco-polymer limited, Sree Lankan-BD joint venture liquid glucose manufacturing company Messers EI and M limited and Delicious Water Products limited.
One of the investors at Ishurdi EPZ while talking to this correspondent informed, the distance from Chittagong sea port was one of the prime reasons that the foreign and local investors are discouraged to set up industries in Ishurdi EPZ. He said, Chittagong port is situated 484 kilometre away from Ishurdi and there is no direct train communication from there.
Another major cause is the excessive amount of toll at the Jamuna bridge followed by the absence of effective and speedy air communication with Ishurdi to other places of the country. He further suggested that by making the Mongla port operational, the distance can be reduced to 280 kilometre (from Mongla-Ishurdi).