Country's investment volume in the export processing zones (EPZs) rose to $504.69 million during the last five years.

According to the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza), investments in the EPZs reached $979.89 million in the 2005-06 fiscal from $475.20 million in 2001.

Out of these, in the last five years, investment in Chittagong EPZ stood at $508.82 million, while there was $420.98milion investment in Dhaka EPZ, $2.87 million in Mongla EPZ, $40.93million in Comilla, $1.50million in Uttara, $4 million in Adamjee and $810 thousand in Ishwardi EPZ.

Despite worldwide recession, the flow of foreign direct investment in the EPZs was significant in the last 60 months, sources said.

"The ever increasing investment growth in the EPZs reflects positive impact of the industrialisation," said a high official of Bepza.

He claimed, "This is happening because of Bepza's effective measures to protect congenial investment climate during the last five years".

During the period, the export volume of EPZs reached $7016.02 million. The enterprises of EPZs exported goods worth $ 11839.80 million up to June 2006 whereas it was $4823.78million until June 2001.

As per the Bepza statistics, export earning from EPZ was $1077.03million in the 2001-02 fiscal, which stood at $11839.80million in the 2005-06 fiscal.

Of the total export earnings, export earning from Chittagong EPZ stood at $ 6901.53 million while it was $4861.83milion from Dhaka EPZ, $49.90million from Comilla EPZ, $22.67 million from Mongla EPZ, $3.63 million from Ishwardi EPZ and $230 thousand from Adamjee EPZ.

Bepza sanctioned 201 industrial plots to the local and foreign investors during the period.

Of the 201 plots, 84 were allotted to foreign companies, 41 for joint venture investment and 76 plots were for Bangladeshi investors. Among the 201 sanctioned plots, 79 have already started production, according to Bepza.

During the last five years, 67 thousand Bangladeshi nationals were employed in the EPZs. At present, the number of Bangladeshi nationals working in the seven EPZs reaches 1.77 lakh from 1.09 lakh in the year 2001.

Moreover, the Bepza received investment proposals worth $89625milion during the first three months of the current fiscal, which may create 21 thousand jobs for the local people.