The Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority drew 29 per cent of the total foreign direct investment of the country in the 2023-24 financial year, claimed the BEPZA.
At a press conference held at the BEPZA Complex in the capital on Monday, BEPZA executive chairman Major General Abdul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman said that the BEPZA exported $7.07 billion, which was 16 per cent of the total $44.47 billion export income in FY24.
The BEPZA signed with 28 foreign companies to invest $568.49 million in Bangladesh, he added.
A total of 38 countries invested in Export Processing Zones under the BEPZA.
Among these companies, 108 are Chinese, 61 South Korean, 29 Japanese, 19 Indian, 19 UK, US 17 and 7 Sri Lankan.
BEPZA member investment Md Ashraful Kabir, in a presentation said that the eight Export Processing Zones under the BEPZA and the BEPZA Economic Zone occupy only 3,445 acres, or 13.95 square kilometres, of the country鈥檚 total area.
Despite their limited size, these zones played a crucial role in attracting $424.29 million in FDI out of the country鈥檚 total $1,468.17 million during the fiscal year, he said.
Over the years, BEPZA has consistently contributed between 15-20 per cent of Bangladesh鈥檚 total exports, he said.
EPZ industrial exports rose by 22.41 per cent, increasing from $3,371 million in July-December 2023 to $4,126 million in the same period of 2024.
However, investments in EPZs declined by 22.33 per cent, dropping from $162.66 million in July-December 2023 to $126.33 million in the corresponding period of 2024.
The EPZs produce a diverse array of goods, including tents, bicycles, cosmetics, Hollywood masks, camping furniture, golf shafts, wigs, mannequins, jute products, energy-saving bulbs, metal products, toys, eyeglasses, camera lenses, mobile parts, car seat heaters, bamboo coffins, PPE, face masks, bridal gowns, gift boxes, eyelashes, cartons, PVC aprons, safety shoes, bags and luggage.
Since its inception, BEPZA has attracted a total of $6.91 billion in investments and facilitated exports amounting to $114.91 billion up to 2024, according to authorities.
BEPZA members engineer Md Imtiaz Hossain and ANM Foyzul Haque and BEPZA director ASM Anwar Pervez, among others, also spoke at the event.
