Japan has expressed interest to establish an economic zone at Matarbari in Moheshkhali seeing the future prospects of Japanese investment there. Besides, China has also sought 50-year land lease agreements and uninterrupted utility supplies to the economic zones they seek to establish in Bangladesh. Sources at the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) said a Japanese delegation comprising JICA officials and Japanese investors expressed their interest to establish an economic zone in Matarbari during a meeting with the BEZA authority on Sunday. The government has already taken initiatives to establish a 1,200 MW coal-fired power plant at Matarbari in Moheshkhali and signed agreements with Japan, Germany and Australia to implement the mega project. BEZA sources said they are yet to get the approval for establishing Japanese economic zone in Matarbari and primary work for getting the approval was under process. Earlier, Japanese delegation had visited three sites in Narsingdi, Narayanganj and Sreepur in Gazipur as potential sites for establishing economic zones for the Japanese investors. “The number of Japanese economic zones to be established here will be confirmed by the end June,” said Malay Chowdhury, Deputy Secretary and General Manager of BEZA. The Chinese government is primarily planning to establish two economic zones at Anwara in Chittagong. They have already sought uninterrupted utility supply to the proposed economic zones. During a meeting with BEZA officials on Sunday, a Chinese delegation comprising officials of Chinese Embassy and Chinese businessmen said they will submit a paper naming all the facilities they want for establishing the economic zones here. While talking to daily sun, Malay Chowdhury said they will provide all the facilities to the foreign investors as per the BEZA act. He also said they will provide modern out-site infrastructure facilities to the investors so that they can operate their business smoothly. Mentionable, the government is planning to set up a total of 100 special economic zones in different parts of the country by the year 2030 with a view to fetch more foreign investment and generate thousands of new jobs. The economic zones will be set up on around 75,000 acres of land under the supervision of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA). BEZA has already got approval for establishing 22 economic zones across the country. The economic zones include the one at Sreepur in Gazipur, Sabrang Tourism SEZ in Cox’s Bazar, Anwara SEZ-2 in Chittagong, Dhaka IT SEZ at Keraniganj, one each in Jamalpur, Narayanganj, Bhola, Ashuganj, Panchagarh, Narsingdi, Manikganj, Kushtia, Barisal, and Nilphamari, a private economic zone in Narsingdi, Abdul Monem Private Economic Zone in Munshiganj, a private special economic zone in Munshiganj, Mirsarai special economic zone, Anwara Economic Zone, Srihatta Economic Zone and two economic zones in Moulvibazar and Mongla. Of the economic zones, four were given to private sector and one to Bangladesh Tourism Board.
Source: https://www.daily-sun.com/print/back-page/2015/05/19/503989#sthash.RubaXIp9.dpuf
