The setting up of economic zones for local and foreign investors is finally gaining momentum with the approval to 24 new zones and the sanction of nearly Tk 450 crore to acquire land for a Chinese special zone. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last week approved the new EZs that made the total approved special zones to 46 in the country, a top official in the Prime Minister’s Office said. Meanwhile, the ministry of finance has decided to sanction about Tk 450 crore soon in favour of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority, as the PMO last month had sought the amount for acquiring nearly 484 acres of land to develop Anwara EZ, exclusively for Chinese investors, sources said. Anwara EZ will be built on 774 acres, of which 290 acres are khas land. The project cost, involving mainly purchase of land from private owners, was recently approved at the ECNEC meeting. ‘The PMO sought the allocation of Tk 442 crore to purchase land for Anwara EZ. The foreign zone once established will be a breakthrough for the economy and employment generation,’ BEZA executive chairman Paban Chowdhury told New Age on Sunday. ‘We are going ahead full-speed to lure both local and foreign investors with ready infrastructure.’ Paban said the special zones for Japanese and Indian investors would also be ready soon. The new EZs are — Gopalganj economic zone at Kotalipara on 202 acres of land, Dhaka EZ in Dohar on 317 acres of land, Habigang EZ in Chunarughat on 511 acres of land, Shariatpur EZ in Zazira on 516 acres of land, Shariatpur EZ in Goshairhat on 750 acres, Zaliardip EZ in Teknaf on 271 acres, Moheshkhali EZ-1 on 1,439 acres, Moheshkhali EZ-2 on 828 acres, Moheshkhali EZ-3 on 677 acres, Cox’s Bazar EZ on 878 acres, Narayangang EZ on 1,000 acres, Natore EZ on 3,220 acres, Meghna industrial EZ at Sonargaon, Narayangang on 245 acres, Comilla EZ on 272 acres, Fomkom EZ at Rampal, Bagerhat, on 300 acres, Araihazar EZ in Narangang on 1,011 acres, Moheshkhali special EZ in Cox’s Bazar on 1,000 acres, Rajshahi EZ in Poba on 204 acres, Sherpur EZ on 361 acres, Feni EZ in Sonagaji on 2,254 acres, Mongla special EZ on 110 acres, Aman private EZ in Sonargaon, Narayangang, on 150 acres and Bay private EZ in Gazipur on 65 acres. A senior finance ministry official said they were examining fund allocation of Tk 442 crore which is likely to be made in two phases. Paban said the government had plans to establish 100 EZs in the next 15 years, adding, ‘huge response from both local and overseas potential investors have made us upbeat about the success of the zones, as investors don’t need to worry about infrastructure and utility connections before investing their funds.’ ‘Once we complete the land acquisition, developers will be appointed to develop the lands.’ Paban said. The government approved the Economic Zones Act in 2010 to attract both foreign and domestic investors. Potential investors from China, Japan and South Korea have, meanwhile, expressed their interest to invest in the proposed economic zones.
