BEPZA launches country desks for Chinese, Korean, Japanese investors

The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) has launched three dedicated country desks for investors from China, South Korea and Japan to strengthen investor services and attract new investment to its export processing zones (EPZs) and economic zones.

The desks were formally inaugurated at the ‘Meet the Investors’ event held in Dhaka on Saturday (October 10), attended by more than 100 local and foreign investors.

Investors from 38 countries have invested in BEPZA’s eight EPZs and two economic zones, with China, South Korea and Japan emerging as the top three investor countries.

The newly launched desks will provide direct assistance, investment-related information and guidance to existing and prospective investors from the three countries, helping streamline investment processes and strengthen communication.

Speaking at the event, BEPZA Executive Chairman Major General Mohammad Moazzem Hossain said the initiative would help strengthen partnerships, address investors’ concerns and make Bangladesh’s investment environment more competitive and business-friendly.

Despite global trade uncertainties and economic challenges, BEPZA signed investment agreements with 36 enterprises in the fiscal year 2025–26. Exports from its zones reached US$8.41 billion during the fiscal year, marking a 2.22 per cent increase from the previous year.

The executive chairman also highlighted the declaration of BEPZA Economic Zone-1, BEPZA Economic Zone-2, Jashore EPZ and Patuakhali EPZ as full-fledged zones, urging investors to expand their operations in the new zones in collaboration with supply-chain partners.

He said BEPZA was promoting environmentally sustainable industrialisation through the principles of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, alongside renewable energy and circular industrial practices.

The authority is also improving investor services through better power supply, Investors’ Clubs, fire stations, healthcare facilities and streamlined One Stop Service (OSS), he added.

BEPZA Member (Investment Promotion) Md. Tanvir Hossain presented the authority’s achievements and progress during FY2025–26, covering investment attraction, export growth, employment generation, new investment agreements, workers’ welfare and measures to simplify investor services.

He also highlighted progress in developing the economic zones and the new EPZs in Jashore and Patuakhali, inviting investors to explore opportunities there.

Referring to limited land availability in operational zones, Tanvir Hossain said BEPZA was contributing to the national economy by ensuring the optimal use of available land.

BEPZA Additional Executive Director (Enterprise Services and Industrial Relations) Nazmul Islam Bhuiyan delivered a presentation on workers’ welfare, employer-worker relations, amendments to the EPZ Labour Act and emerging labour-related challenges.

During an open discussion, investors and BEPZA officials exchanged views on service delivery, business expansion, investment opportunities and ways to improve the investment climate. The Bangladesh EPZ Labour Act, 2019, was also discussed, with BEPZA reaffirming its commitment to protecting the interests of investors and workers while maintaining international labour standards.

Million Park, general secretary of the Korea-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlighted the potential for business partnerships between Bangladesh and South Korea. He stressed the need for infrastructure development and policy simplification to attract more Korean investment.

Pintu Kumar Shaw, vice-president of EPIC Group, praised BEPZA’s business-support services and expressed interest in investing in the new EPZs in Jashore and Patuakhali.

R N Paul, managing director of PRAN-RFL Group, shared his experience in the food-processing sector and encouraged investors to diversify beyond ready-made garments into high-value-added industries, renewable energy and backward-linkage industries.

In his concluding remarks, the BEPZA executive chairman reiterated the authority’s commitment to maintaining an investor-friendly environment and safeguarding investors’ interests.

Representatives of the Bangladesh-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korea-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry attended the event alongside more than 100 local and foreign investors.