Economic Reporter :
Mongla Export Processing Zone (EPZ) of southern region would be the economic hub in the country.
“Within a short time Mongla EPZ would be the main economic hub of the southern region, as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has changed the pace of living of this regions,” Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) Major General Mohd Habibur Rahman Khan said this while speaking as the chief guest at an investment seminar recently.
Mongla EPZ organised the seminar at a local hotel in Khulna to promote Mongla, Ishwardi and Uttara EPZs located in Northern and Southern part of the country, said a release issued on Wednesday.
Khan said the investors of Mongla EPZ would be privileged to manage their business through the Padma Bridge and the Asian Highway. Fully function of Pyra port, establishment of rail links to Mongla, operation of the proposed airport would change the economic scenario of the region, he added.
Mongla Economic Zone will also add new dimension in business of this area, the chairman said.
Replying to a query about scarcity of land in the EPZs, Khan said BEPZA could not fulfill the demand of the big investors since there was no land to allot in Dhaka and Chittagong EPZs.
He also hoped that the functioning of BEPZA Economic Zone at Mirsarai, Chittagong would resolve the problem.
He said harmony between workers and owners was the key strength of EPZ. The workers of EPZs enjoyed freedom to elect their representatives through forming Workers Welfare Association (WWA) who actively perform like trade union in order to fulfill the workers’ demand and resolve their problems.
The chairman said the contribution of the BEPZA was 20 percent to the total national export and foreign direct investment (FDI).
Pointing out success of BEPZA, he said BEPZA achieved 179.19 percent growth in investment, 216.57 percent in export, 128.44 percent in employment generation and 40.50 percent in operation of new industries in the last eight years.
Khan informed that BEPZA had gained investment US$ 2667.60 million, exported US$ 38,330.99 million, generated employment 2,55,118 and 170 new industries started operation during 2009-16 period.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tara Exim Corporation Mohammed Ali Kapadia expressed his comfort in investing MEPZ. He hoped that the scenario of this region would be completely changed within two years.
General Manager (public relations) of BEPZA Nazma Binte Alamgir also spoke at the seminar, while General Manager of Mongla EPZ Abdul Alim depicted the overall scenario of MEPZ through a PowerPoint presentation.
Senior Vice-President of Khulna Chamber, local businessmen, high officials
of MEPZ and representatives from enterprises were present at the seminar.
