Enabling economic zones creating jobs, says WB
UNB
Economic zones are increasingly attracting domestic and foreign investment, creating jobs and accelerating the growth, said the World Bank yesterday, reports UNB.
The World Bank, together with UK-DFID and IFC, is supporting the government to develop economic zones and hi-tech parks through the Private Sector Development Support Project (PSDSP). The project has so far helped create nearly 5,500 jobs, said a press release.
In the last two years, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) licensed 16 economic zones and Hi-Tech parks and assessed 33 sites, completed feasibility studies, and master plans for new zones in line with the governments target to set up 100 zones in the next 15 years.
BEZA has issued licenses to 11 private zone developers, including licensing to Mongla Economic Zone on a public-private partnership basis. The tendering process for the development of economic zones in Mirsarai, Shrehatta and other locations has started.
BEZA has assessed 12 sites and drafted another nine for pipeline economic zones. The new BEZA Act has been approved, while a gazette notification for the private Economic Zone policy published.
