Photo: Collected

DHAKA, April 05, 2025 (BSS) - Twelve more firms in the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) Economic Zone (EZ),
established at the National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ) in Chattogram, is likely to go into commercial operation within 2025.

So far, a total of 41 companies have signed agreements to set up industries in the BEPZA EZ in Chattogram's Mirersarai, with a total proposed investment of $913.17 million, eying for 1,31,577 employment opportunities.

The companies will produce a diverse array of products, including shoe accessories, packaging materials, finished lubricants, camping equipment, outdoor products, tents, garment accessories, hair fashion
accessories, cotton products, hospital products, bags, mattresses, socks, and more, in addition to garments.

Among the 41 companies, four have already commenced their commercial operations.

In a recent interview with BSS, BEPZA Executive Chairman Major General
Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman said the development works of the BEPZA EZ will be completed within this year.

"The EZ has been able to achieve good response from foreign investors,
especially from Chinese investors. Many investors have already inked land lease agreements while many are in pipeline. The construction works of 18 firms are going on in the EZ, out of them, 10-12 firms are expected to go into commercial operation within this year," he added.

He said Chinese investment in this EZ is rising, driven partly by tariff policies imposed by the USA and the competitive labour market.

Product diversification as well as high-end and tech-based products is being priorities at the economic zone, he added.

Ziaur Rahman said BEPZA evaluates several things, including proposed investments, employment opportunities, export potential, as well as production factors such as product types, whether the production process will leave any negative impact on the environment, and how much electricity, water, and gas will be required, before approving any application.

According to BEPZA, out of 41 companies from various countries, 24 of them are being Chinese firms.

Between August 2024 and March 2025, BEPZA received proposals from 34 potential Chinese investors. From July 2024 to March 2025, eight Chinese companies signed lease agreements, with a proposed investment
of $153.82 million.

These companies have plans to manufacture solar accessories, bags, luggage,
light engineering products, readymade garments, silicon dioxide, flexible intermediate bulk containers and packaging.

Ziaur Rahman expected that Chinese investment will thrive for diversifying
beyond readymade garments into sectors such as renewable energy and raw material production for solar panels.

He said the Bangladesh Investment Summit-2025, scheduled for 7-10 April, is expected to attract further investors from different countries including China.

Expressing satisfaction over the current law and order situation in Bangladesh following the mass uprising and changeover in August last year, the BEPZA chief said due to the government's strict measures and
initiatives, the situation has now come to a satisfactory level while the investors from different countries are now coming to invest here.

"Many Chinese and Korean investors have already invested in the EPZs. We're now also looking for investments from European countries and also from the rest of the world. Due to improvement in the image of the country, I think, European and other nations will also increase their investments here," he added.

BEPZA is a government body empowered and responsible for the creation, development, operation and management of industrial zone like Export Processing Zone as well as promoting investment in Bangladesh.

Over the past four decades, BEPZA has established a remarkable track
record attracting investment from 38 countries to its nine zones consistently generating 18-20 percent of the country's annual exports.

The nine zones are Chattogram EPZ, Dhaka EPZ, Mongla EPZ, Uttara EPZ, Ishwardi EPZ, Cumilla EPZ, Adamjee EPZ, Karnaphuli EPZ and BEPZA EZ.

According to the master plan, the BEPZA EZ has been established on 1,138.55 acres of land in the NSEZ with 539 industrial plots.