Karnaphuli EPZ adopts automation

Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone has initiated automated systems on import permissions, export permissions and sub contracts issuance.
Under the system, the 38 operating enterprises of the EPZ would receive import permissions, export permissions and sub contracts permissions online, within an hour.
In the manual system, they had to suffer the hassle of physically submitting the forms that would take a day to get approval.
Major General KM Mominur Rahman, executive chairman of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority, inaugurated the automation process yesterday.
The automation will save time and money of investors and Bepza, said Md Ahsan Kabir, general manager of Karnaphuli EPZ.
Mashrul Anwar, commercial manager of Eusebio Sporting Ltd, said the new system would reduce the hassle of taking permission physically. In the manual method, there was a scope for Bepza officials to delay the approval process and return applications for trifling reasons.
But now, applications cannot be delayed or returned without mentioning the specific reasons, he added.
The system would also reduce any chance of corruption in the approval process, Kabir said.
Automation would increase the capability and quality of the zone's services, he added.
At present, nearly 40,000 people are employed in the EPZ located in North Patenga and Halishahar areas of Chittagong.
Since establishment in September 2006, it has exported products worth around $867.49 million. It exported products worth $379.6 million against a target of $320 million in the last fiscal year ending in June 2013.
Chittagong EPZ and Dhaka EPZ were brought under automation in 2009 and 2010 respectively.