BEZA to launch OSS centre by end of September

The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) is set to launch its 'One Stop Service (OSS) Centre' by the end of this month (September) to provide all the necessary services to the investors of the economic zones in a single window, reports BSS.

"We have already started to provide most of the services through OSS centre. We'll formally inaugurate the centre at the end of this month since all preparations have been taken in this regard," BEZA Chief Law Officer Dr Malay Choudhury told the news agency.

Under the OSS centre, he said, investors in the economic zones will get all sorts of services in a single window to start their business within a short time.

"BEZA has selected a total of 107 services under OSS centre. Out of the services, BEZA is providing 52 services directly while the other 55 are being provided through the assistance of different ministries or departments," he said.

Describing the one-stop service as a web-based one, Malay Choudhury, also a joint secretary, said previously investors had to apply physically and go door-to-door to meet all service providers to get permissions for getting utility connections and other services.

"BEZA will provide all the services online. Now, the authority is providing 11 services online while the rest of the services manually," he informed. The services are project clearance, land requisition, import permit, export permit, visa recommendation, visa assistance, work permit, local sales permit, local purchase permit, sample import permit and sample export permit, he mentioned.

Malay Choudhury said that BEZA is going to provide more three services online soon. The three services are trade license, Commercial Operation Certificate (COC) and project clearance amendment.

The BEZA chief law officer hoped that BEZA's all 52 services will be available online within June, 2020.

He said necessary software for the OSS centre is being developed with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the 'Project for Promoting Investment and Enhancing Industrial Competitiveness in Bangladesh'.

"Bangladesh will enter a new era by introduction of the 'One Stop Service' so that the country can make a positive change in the 'Ease of Doing Business'," he said.

The potential investors will get all other necessary permissions, including permissions of various utility services like power, gas, water and telephone from the centre, for starting a business here, he added.

Under the Bangladesh Economic Zones Act 2010, BEZA has been established to set up Economic Zones (EZs) in the country's potential areas. It is implementing a plan to establish 100 EZs by 2030 on 75,000 acres of land to fetch more investment as well as create employment for 10 million (one crore) people and increasing export earnings.

The broad objectives of BEZA are structural transformation of the country's economy through attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), diversifying export, promoting skill development, sharing knowledge generating employment, ensuring dynamic benefits for the domestic industry, and social and environmental sustainability.

BEZA is playing a regulatory role in establishing EZs. It is appointing developers under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model to develop the EZs. Private sector is also establishing EZs by taking license from BEZA.