staff reporter, Dhaka : Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), the leading Investment Promotional Agency of the country, hits all-time high growth in its journey of 40 years. In the recently ended fiscal year 2021-22, the authority witnessed a significant rise in all indicators i.e. export, investment & employment. Exports soar 30.41% and investment increased over 20% compared to the achievement of the previous year.

The enterprises of EPZs created new employment for 64,160 Bangladeshi nationals which is highest in a single year in the history of BEPZA.

The exports from the operational enterprises of country’s 8 EPZs under BEPZA reached US$ 8655.90 million in the fiscal year 2021-22, setting a new record crossing the US$ 8 billion mark for the first time. The previous highest in a single FY was US$ 7524.11 million in 2018-2019. Export receipts were 30.41% up compared to a year ago i.e. 2020-21, when the enterprises of EPZs brought home US$ 6637.06 million.

Among the total export of EPZs, the apparel shipment accounts for only 54.68% whereas 85% of the country’s total export is apparel. But the other sectors of EPZs such as garment accessories, footwear & leather goods, textile, tent, cap, plastic goods, electronics captured a fair share in the export earnings which proved the EPZs as the hub of producing products of diverse nature.

BEPZA has attracted investment of US$ 409.80 million in the FY 2021-2022 surpassing all previous records. This is the highest investment in a single FY in the history of BEPZA. The previous highest was US$ 406.35 million in the FY 2014-2015. The investment increased 20.26% in the just concluded FY compared to US$ 340.75 million achieved in the FY 2020-21.

BEPZA hopes the investment would be increased more from FY 2022-23 by the operation of BEPZA Economic Zone – the largest ever venture of BEPZA. Till June 2022, BEPZA allowed 10 companies to set up industries in BEPZA EZ with a total proposed investment of US$ 215.66 million which will start to be added as actual investment from the current FY.

In the recent ended fiscal year 2021-22, BEPZA has created a milestone by creating employment for 64,160 Bangladeshi nationals. Though BEPZA created new jobs for over 47 thousand people in FY 2020-21, in the recently concluded FY 2021-22 the authority set a new record by creating job opportunity for 64,160 Bangladeshi nationals. This shows a rise of 36.51%.

In the recent ended fiscal year 2021-22, BEPZA has created a milestone by creating employment for 64,160 Bangladeshi nationals. Though BEPZA created new jobs for over 47 thousand people in FY 2020-21, in the recently concluded FY 2021-22 the authority set a new record by creating job opportunity for 64,160 Bangladeshi nationals.

Mentionable, the investors of 37 countries including South Korea, China (Taiwan & Hong Kong), Japan, India, UK, USA along with host Bangladesh invested US$ 6040.43 million in EPZs as of June 2022. The total exports from the 456 operational enterprises of 8 EPZs reached to US$ 96 billion where the number of cumulative employment stands at 5,02,365 till June 2022.