CA urges BEPZA to promote Bangladesh abroad, bring more investments to the country

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday asked Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) to promote Bangladesh abroad and bring more investments to the country’s industrial sectors.

"Create a team for economic diplomacy and promote Bangladesh abroad," Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder quoted Dr Yunus as conveying to the BEPZA officials, asking the body to collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the purpose.

The Chief Adviser issued the directive when BEPZA submitted its annual report for the 2023-24 financial years to him at his office at Tejgaon, Dhaka.

He also asked BEPZA officials to engage Bangladeshi students studying abroad, especially in China and Japan, to help investors overcome language barriers before making investment choices.

BEPZA Executive Chairman Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman said that they are already receiving positive responses from investors following the July-August uprising in Bangladesh and the repeatedly changing global political landscape.

"In the past three weeks, we have received a USD $135 million investment proposal from the Chinese investors. Talks are underway for more investments," he told the Chief Adviser.

CA's DPS: Bangladesh lived under shadow of a regime that turned "elections into farces"

He said that currently eight export processing zones are operational in Bangladesh, housing 452 factories.

There are 136 more factories currently under construction in the zones.

Among the operational factories, over 100 are owned by the local investors, and the rest are mostly joint ventures.