The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) hosted a 'Meet the Investors' event in Chattogram on Saturday, bringing together over a hundred local and foreign investors to foster closer communication, strengthen cooperation, and address industrial operational challenges.
Under the motto "Dialogue, Partnership, and Shared Growth," this marked BEPZA’s second investor interaction event of the year, following a similar gathering held in Dhaka on October 10.
Speaking at the program as the chief guest, BEPZA Executive Chairman Major General Mohammad Moazzem Hossain praised the business community for keeping the economy thriving through resilience, optimism, and innovation despite global geopolitical disruptions, energy market volatility, and infrastructure hurdles.
"Your stubborn optimism, unflinching courage, brilliance, and decency have kept this economy alive. We are proud of you," the Executive Chairman said, while also commending the exceptional craftsmanship of workers in producing diversified, world-class products ranging from high-end apparel and Nordic bridal gowns to NATO military logistics.
Highlighting BEPZA's recent operational milestones, Major General Moazzem Hossain noted that the authority signed investment agreements with 36 new enterprises during the 2025–26 fiscal year. In the same period, total exports from BEPZA-managed zones reached US$ 8.41 billion, registering a 2.22 percent increase compared to the previous fiscal year. He also pointed to the declaration of BEPZA Economic Zone-1, BEPZA Economic Zone-2, Jashore EPZ, and Patuakhali EPZ as full-fledged operating zones as a major achievement of the year.
During the event, Member (Investment Promotion) Md. Tanvir Hossain delivered a presentation outlining the authority's key progress in FY 2025–26, emphasizing investment attraction, export growth, employment generation, and policy improvements. He highlighted that BEPZA has successfully attracted US$ 3 million in investment per acre of land while generating an annual return of BDT 13.82 crore per acre through optimal resource utilization.
Additionally, BEPZA's Additional Executive Director (Enterprise Services & Industrial Relations) Md. Nazmul Islam Bhuiyan spoke on worker welfare initiatives, labor law reforms aligned with international standards, and digital transformation efforts, including the rollout of 45 online services and a 24/7 helpline (16128).
The event concluded with an open discussion session where senior BEPZA officials and investors exchanged views on operational expansion, resolving industrial bottlenecks, and upholding international labor standards under the Bangladesh EPZ Labour Act, 2019.
Since its inception in 1980, BEPZA has played a pivotal role in Bangladesh’s export-oriented industrialization. Operating eight EPZs and two Economic Zones, it has attracted approximately US$ 7.50 billion in cumulative investments from 38 countries, generating around US$ 130 billion in exports—accounting for roughly 20 percent of the national export total and nearly 19.17 percent of total FDI in Bangladesh.