Rajshahi to get economic zone by 2019
Necessary initiatives have been taken to set up specialised economic zone in Rajshahi to elevate its economic condition and eradicate unemployment problems through the best use of existing agricultural potentialities, officials concerned here said.
In order to establish agro-based industries, the zone will be set up on around 205 acres of land in Joykrishnapur, Maria, Balanagar, Bhobanipur and Koira areas in Paba upazila of the district. The privately-owned lands will be purchased in fair prices.
Ataul Gani, additional deputy commissioner (general), said small and medium enterprises along with garments factories will be established in the zone upon successful completion of its necessary process by 2019.
Within this time, infrastructure development works will start, he added.
Prime Minister's Office and Economic Zone Committee have already completed the site selection process and district administration has submitted the site selection report to the ministry of land.
Muniruzzaman Moni, president of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), said the zone will obviously generate massive employment scopes besides attracting many investors towards establishing industries.
Foreign investors will be encouraged to invest here side by side with the local ones. Many foreign investors have contacted us in this regard, he said.
A good relation between local and foreign investors will be built which will contribute to a massive economic growth.
RCCI has requested the authorities concerned to set up small engineering and garments factories in the zone. "We have demanded 20 percent investment scope for the women entrepreneurs," said Chamber leader Moni.
He mentioned that prospects of agro-processing enterprises is bright in the region as it produces surplus crops especially food-grains, fruits and vegetables.
He focused on the agricultural potentials of the region with a special emphasis on the value added agro-processing opportunities and agro-based industries. It could add to the industrialisation efforts of agro-based and agro-processing industry in the region for a sustainable and well-formed linkage of production, processing and marketing.
Moni described “value addition to agricultural products and agro-processing” as very much consistent with the government policy since due emphasis are being given on agro-processing at present.
AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, former mayor of the Rajshahi City Corporation, said economic zone is very important to bolster up economic condition and livelihood of people of any region. To this end, political will is very imperative.
He says the present government is very much positive towards strengthening Rajshahi's economic condition through proper utilisation of the existing potentialities.
He hoped that the new economic zone scheme will be implemented soon.