Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud Bin Harun said foreign investors are very happy about investing in Bangladesh due to the impact of the investment conference.
He said that the government spent about Tk 1.5 crore on the investment conference. And the investment of Tk 3,000 came in during the event.
This information was given at a press briefing organized at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Sunday to inform about the recently concluded investment conference.
Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) organized the four-day conference. BIDA Business Development Department Head Nahian Rahman Rochi, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar were present at the press conference.
Meanwhile, BIDA Executive Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury said that the government has decided to cancel 10 economic zones in the country.
The decision was taken during a meeting with top officials of BIDA and BEPZA chaired by Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus on Sunday.
The 5 government economic zones that have been decided to be canceled are Sonadia Eco Tourism Park (Cox's Bazar), Sundarban Tourism Park (Bagerhat), Gazaria Economic Zone (Munshiganj), Sreepur Economic Zone (Gazipur) and Mymensingh Economic Zone (Mymensingh).
The 5 private economic zones are Garment Industry Park, BGMEA (Munshiganj), Chhatak Economic Zone (Sunamganj), FOMCOM Economic Zone (Bagerhat), City Special Economic Zone (Dhaka) and Sonargaon Economic Zone (Narayanganj).
Chowdhury Ashiq said at a press conference after taking charge that the government will establish a maximum of 10 economic zones in the next 10 years. A specific plan will be taken for a period of 10 years.
BIDA Chairman said, "This summit was not a summit that could get 10 out of 10. However, the success is everyone's. Failure is BIDA and BEZA's. Such summits can be held every year. I hope that similar events will be held later or by the next government."
He said, "This conference has brought in more than Tk 3,000 crore of investment. The government has spent Tk 1.5 crore. It is not like someone will write a check for Tk 100 crore at the four-day summit. We have made them visit our factories. They have been shown where to go to set up factories. The investors have been very happy to come to the conference. We should not leave them out of the food menu. We will do renovation work and keep building the investment pipeline at the same time."
He also said, "Thank you, mails will be sent to all those who came to the investment conference to keep the investment pipeline in order. We will keep in touch with them."
Business Development Department Head of BIDA Nahian Rahman Rochi said that 750 people participated in the inaugural summit. Of these, 415 were foreigners. More than 3,500 people participated in the entire conference. There were 130 speakers and panelists. Investments of Tk 3,100 crore came through Handa and Shopup. Six MoUs have been signed. And the government's cost is Tk 1.45 crore. There were also expenses for the partners in the entire arrangement.
The BIDA has become the 54th country to sign an agreement with the US space agency NASA, said Ashiq Chowdhury.
The four-day investment conference began at the capital's Intercontinental hotel on April 7. Organized by BIDA, investors from 40 countries, including the United States, China, Japan, and South Korea, participated in the conference. The conference is also attended by top corporate figures and many business organizations whose annual revenue is equal to the total GDP of Bangladesh.
