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http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.c...ai-zone-may-catalyse-$25b-investments-by-2030
Published : 22 Jul 2017, 22:01:25
Mirsarai zone may catalyse $25b investments by 2030
BEZA receives proposals worth $10b so far
FE Desk
Mirsarai Economic Zone is expected to fetch US$ 20-25 billion investments by 2030 opening up a new era of industrialisation and job creation in the country.
"We've so far received investment proposals worth around US$ 10 billion. In Mirsharai, we expect it will cross US$ 20 billion," executive chairman of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Paban Chowdhury said. "It won't be surprising if the real investment there stands at US$ 20-25 billion by 2030."
He said there were some factors considered by the investors in making their investment decisions where connectivity was the main.
"They want a location which is well-connected with highway, railway having seaport and airport proximity. The investors also consider whether the economic zone has access to sea connectivity," Mr Chowdhury said.
He argued that big industrial units cannot be set up here and there and these require direct access to sea.
"Mirsarai Economic Zone, being established, enjoys the direct access to sea. It's a big opportunity for the investors. We've already received proposals to establish two big steel mills," the BEZA executive head said.
BEZA is now working to establish zone with China and Japan in Chittagong and Narayanganj on G2G basis.
"BEZA is also in discussion with India to establish three zones where we follow the China model in terms of equity share," he said.
Sharing his initial days at the BEZA back in 2014, Chowdhury said he then threw a slogan to attract investors, saying they wanted to establish 100 economic zones within 15 years, which has now become a 'national slogan'.
"Now people keep asking me when I'll visit their place. Now we've come up with another slogan - we'll create employment opportunity for 10 million people and will develop 75,000 acres of land," he said. The BEZA executive chairman said that the agency has recently revised its target and it will develop 100,000 acres of land. "We've already 38,000 acres of land, which we achieved in only 30 months. We want to go a long way exceeding our targets."
Responding to a question, the BEZA executive chief said they could create employment for over 10 million people but there were big challenges in this area, too. "We want to keep our eyes wide open. We want to feel the changes and want to keep eyes on those changes in the world." Accordingly, he said, the agency was ready to act on and react as there was a claim that employment rate was low despite higher economic growth and good investment flow.
"It's true. There's no way to ignore this fact. You may not recognise. But, the reality is different. Technology has occupied the presence of human workforce. Except the RMG industry, the number of workers in other areas is gradually decreasing," he noted.
Mr Chowdhury said it needed to give a greater focus on the service sector-- hotel, tourism -- where they need skilled manpower. "We've taken control over islands from Cox's Bazar to Kutubdia. We're working on these islands."
Published : 22 Jul 2017, 22:01:25
Mirsarai zone may catalyse $25b investments by 2030
BEZA receives proposals worth $10b so far
FE Desk
Mirsarai Economic Zone is expected to fetch US$ 20-25 billion investments by 2030 opening up a new era of industrialisation and job creation in the country.
"We've so far received investment proposals worth around US$ 10 billion. In Mirsharai, we expect it will cross US$ 20 billion," executive chairman of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Paban Chowdhury said. "It won't be surprising if the real investment there stands at US$ 20-25 billion by 2030."
He said there were some factors considered by the investors in making their investment decisions where connectivity was the main.
"They want a location which is well-connected with highway, railway having seaport and airport proximity. The investors also consider whether the economic zone has access to sea connectivity," Mr Chowdhury said.
He argued that big industrial units cannot be set up here and there and these require direct access to sea.
"Mirsarai Economic Zone, being established, enjoys the direct access to sea. It's a big opportunity for the investors. We've already received proposals to establish two big steel mills," the BEZA executive head said.
BEZA is now working to establish zone with China and Japan in Chittagong and Narayanganj on G2G basis.
"BEZA is also in discussion with India to establish three zones where we follow the China model in terms of equity share," he said.
Sharing his initial days at the BEZA back in 2014, Chowdhury said he then threw a slogan to attract investors, saying they wanted to establish 100 economic zones within 15 years, which has now become a 'national slogan'.
"Now people keep asking me when I'll visit their place. Now we've come up with another slogan - we'll create employment opportunity for 10 million people and will develop 75,000 acres of land," he said. The BEZA executive chairman said that the agency has recently revised its target and it will develop 100,000 acres of land. "We've already 38,000 acres of land, which we achieved in only 30 months. We want to go a long way exceeding our targets."
Responding to a question, the BEZA executive chief said they could create employment for over 10 million people but there were big challenges in this area, too. "We want to keep our eyes wide open. We want to feel the changes and want to keep eyes on those changes in the world." Accordingly, he said, the agency was ready to act on and react as there was a claim that employment rate was low despite higher economic growth and good investment flow.
"It's true. There's no way to ignore this fact. You may not recognise. But, the reality is different. Technology has occupied the presence of human workforce. Except the RMG industry, the number of workers in other areas is gradually decreasing," he noted.
Mr Chowdhury said it needed to give a greater focus on the service sector-- hotel, tourism -- where they need skilled manpower. "We've taken control over islands from Cox's Bazar to Kutubdia. We're working on these islands."
