“After China, Japan and India, now many more countries including, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and South Korea, are showing interest to set up economic zones to invest in Bangladesh”, he said while unveiling the prospectus of Power Pac Economic Zone (pvt) Ltd (PPEZL) at an “Investment Promotion” function at a city hotel.
Power Pac Economic Zone (pvt) Ltd, a concern of local conglomerate Sikder Group, set up the country’s first private economic zone at Mongla on a land of 205 acres near Mongla Port. The area is located within one kilometre of Mongla port and 20 km of Hazrat Khanzahan Ali airport in Bagerhat.
The function was also addressed, among others, by Prime Minister’s SDG chief coordinator Abul Kalam Azad, Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) executive chairman Paban Chowdhury, executive member Mohammad Ayub and Power Pac Economic Zone (pvt) Limited’s managing director Ron Haque Sikder.
Multinational company Unilever and some other concerns of Sikder Group were handed over the allotment of the plots of Mongla Economic Zone at the function.
The PPEZL officials said ongla Economic Zone is fully complete and ready for setting up industries.
They said about 44 percent of the plots have already been allocated to different industries while remaining 56 percent are being offered to interested local and international investors.
Addressing the function, Salam F Rahman said that the government is taking all protective measures to save environment while developing the economic zones in southern part of the country.
“Already the concept of economic zones received huge response from local and international investors and so far agreements were signed for 28 zones”, he said.
Abul Kalam Azad said the government initiated the move for setting up 100 economic zones in order to ensure utility services to industries through one-stop service centre.
Appreciating Power Pac for coming forward to set up economic zone with a pioneering role, BEZA executive chairman Pabal Chowdhury said setting up of economic zone was a great challenge for the government as initially there was no response from investors to invest in such project.
“But after a series of failure, now it has been a lucrative venture for foreign investors to invest in the economic zones”, he said adding that now many more economic zones are being set up in different places including Mirsarai, Sylhet, Munshiganj and Barisal.