Beza’s OSS fees can now be paid through bKash
The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) yesterday took a step to give a boost to the ease of doing business as it teamed up with bKash to fast-track the transactions that investors make at the agency's One-Stop Service centre.
The authority of the economic zones also signed a deal with Brac Bank for opening a branch at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar (BSMSN).
The deals will ease the process for investors to pay the fees for the services taken through Beza's One-Stop Service centre, Paban Chowdhury, executive chairman of the Beza, said at the signing ceremony at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon in Dhaka.
Some more banks, including HSBC, City and Eastern, will soon start work to set up dedicated branches at the BSMSN, he said.
The door is open for other MFS providers also if they want to team up with Beza, said an official of the zones authority.
Md Abdul Mannan, executive member of the Beza, Tareq Refat Ullah Khan, deputy managing director of Brac Bank, and Monirul Islam, chief external and corporate affairs officer of bKash, signed the deals.
The Beza has been successful in bringing globally renowned investors like Sumitomo of Japan, Adani of India and Wilmar of Singapore to Bangladesh, Chowdhury said. "Now we need cooperation from all public service providers to help Bangladesh do good in the Ease of Doing Business Index and turn the country into a role model for development in the world."
The Beza has been bringing foreign investment to the country even during the pandemic, which clearly depicts how investment-friendly the government is, Ahmad Kaikaus, principal secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, said at the programme.
Bangabandhu Shilpa Nagar will fulfil the dream of investment in Bangladesh in the future, he said.
Md Maksudur Rahman Patwary, senior secretary of the land ministry, said his ministry has been allocating land for economic zones as per the need for industrialisation.
He believes the Beza would help the country go for planned industrialisation.
"The flow of investment to Bangladesh has been good even during the pandemic, and it is really an encouraging development," said Paban Chowdhury.
The strong performance of the Beza and innovative initiatives taken by the government have boosted the confidence of foreign investors, he said.
On the same day, two Chinese companies also signed a land lease agreement with the Beza to invest around Tk 244 crore at the BSMSN to set up manufacturing units for non-woven personal protective equipment (PPE), steel structural items and ready-mix concrete.
Ke Changliang, chairman of CCECC Bangladesh, a subsidiary of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), and Wang Jing, plant director of Jeihong Medical Products (BD), a subsidiary of Kunshan Jiehong Nonwoven Product Company, signed the deal with the Beza.
Some 10 acres will be availed by CCECC Bangladesh as per agreement. It will invest $15.97 million, equivalent to Tk 136 crore, and employ around 350 people in producing the construction items as "Mirsarai Fabrication".
Established in 1979 and headquartered in Beijing, the CCECC has long been considered one of the world's top 255 international contractors.
Its business spreads over 101 countries, and it is involved in projects in railways, highways, bridges, dredging, airport, buildings and port development and municipal works.
CCECC Bangladesh was formed in September 2019 to run a similar business model.
Meanwhile, eight acres have been sought by Jeihong Medical Products (BD).
It will invest Tk 108 crore, equivalent to $12.72 million, to manufacture non-woven PPE products such as isolation gowns, scrub suits, lab jackets, disposable caps, shoe covers, and boot covers.