The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) achieved 16.22 percent export growth and 33,000 new employment opportunities in the recently ended fiscal year 2024-25.
The Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and BEPZA Economic Zone, operated by the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), recorded significant growth in exports and employment.
During the fiscal year, goods worth US$8.22 billion were exported from BEPZA-administered Economic Zones, which is 16.22 percent higher than the $ 7.07 billion exported in FY 2023–24.
Since its inception, BEPZA has exported goods worth $ 119 billion. Products manufactured in the EPZs are exported to more than 120 countries across the globe. In FY 2024–25, BEPZA's contribution to the national export was 17.03 percent, up from 15.9 percent in FY 2023–24. The total national export during this period stood at $ 48.28 billion.
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Furthermore, the employment generation in BEPZA-administered zones is consistently increasing. As of June 2025, a total of 533,527 Bangladeshi nationals are employed in 8 EPZs and the BEPZA Economic Zone. In comparison, the number was 500,110 in June 2024. This increase in employment has been made possible by the commencement of operations by new enterprises and expansion of activities in existing industries, according to BEPZA.
In FY 2024–25, enterprises operating within BEPZA’s EPZs and Economic Zone invested $ 292.77 million in capital machinery, construction materials, and other fixed assets (excluding working capital). This figure is slightly lower than the $350.93 million invested in FY 2023–24. BEPZA views this as a temporary slowdown linked to global and local adjustments. The Authority remains optimistic that the groundwork laid during this period will drive a rebound in investment in the coming quarters.
The signing of 33 new investment agreements in FY2024–25 marks a significant milestone for BEPZA. Investors from China, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the British Virgin Islands, Singapore, India, the United Arab Emirates, and Bangladesh entered into agreements to set up industrial units.
The total proposed investment under these agreements is US$ 497.48 million, with an estimated employment potential of 59,408 Bangladeshi nationals. These enterprises will produce a wide range of goods, including readymade garments, electronics, agro-based products, footwear, leather goods, packaging materials, tents, wigs, light engineering products, toys, and composite items. Once operational, these investments are expected to accelerate the actual investment inflow in FY 2025–26.
At present, there are 563 industrial units under BEPZA, of which 450 are operational and 113 are under implementation. Among the operational enterprises, 33 percent produce readymade garments, 18 percent garment accessories, and 9 percent textile products. The remaining 40 percent export a wide variety of goods ranging from electronics and medical equipment to furniture and fashion accessories.
Mentionable that BEPZA currently operates 8 EPZs across the country and the BEPZA Economic Zone in Mirsarai, Chattogram. Additionally, to attract more investment, the development of two new EPZs in Jashore and Patuakhali is progressing rapidly. BEPZA expects to begin plot allocation for investors in these zones by next year.