BEZA to offer one-stop services to investors

Doulot Akter Mala | Published: February 14, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) has initiated a move to offer one-stop services to the investors to help them get required support for investment.
With the introduction of one-stop services, developers of the economic zones and industrial units will get different clearance certificates, certificate of origin, permits for repatriation of capital and dividends, resident and non-resident visas, work and construction permits from the department concerned, officials said.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has recently instructed all the wings concerned to select a focal point for their respective ministries, departments, organisations or offices.
It sent letters to the Board of Investment (BoI), National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh Bank (BB), Roads and Highways Division and some selected ministries, including commerce, home, local government, power, energy and mineral resources and housing and public works etc.
A senior BEZA official said the authority would apprise the Prime Minister next week of its next course of plan to provide investors with necessary support, including one-stop services. Â
A governing board meeting is set to be held on February 18 with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. Issue of attracting investors would be discussed and a new plan for the economic zones will also be unveiled at the meeting. Â
Some 12 ministers would also attend the meeting and discuss progress in planned economic zones and special economic zones, the official said.
The last meeting of BEZA governing board was held in April, 2012. Â
"The governing board will review progress in the decisions, taken in the last meeting on various issues, including setting up of economic zones in five areas of Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna and Sirajganj," the BEZA official told the FE.
The authority has already mulled over development of a Chinese Economic Zone, he added.
Some 11 sites have been selected for setting up economic zones under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) while two sites have also been chosen for establishing private economic zones.
Necessary amendment to the existing laws for establishing EZs would also come up at the meeting for discussion, the official added.
He said the authority is carrying out a study on one-stop services in other countries for those who would invest in the economic zones.
The government has set up the authority as per 'Bangladesh Economic Zone Law-2010 aiming to facilitate investment in the countries under developed and potential areas.
The BEZA would support the investors in acquiring land and getting utility services, the official said, adding that the BEZA is now waiting for directives from the PM to devise its next work plan.
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