The Export Processing Zones (EPZs) in the country received $333.38 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) and earned $7.52 billion from exports in the last fiscal year, according to Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) data.
The export earnings from all eight EPZs saw a 4.38 percent growth year-over-year.
The growth, however, failed to keep pace with the overall export growth, as the country registered a 10.55 percent increase from merchandise export during the period.
In 2018-2-19, Chittagong EPZ exported goods worth $2.40 billion followed by Dhaka EPZ with $2.20 billion, Mongla EPZ $89.44 million, Cumilla EPZ $491 million, Uttara EPZ $294 million, Ishwardi EPZ $150.22 million, Adamjee EPZ $826.40 million and Karnaphuli EPZ with $1.08billion.
Eight EPZs receives $333.38 million FDI
Chattogram EPZ received FDI to the tune of $75.69 million, Dhaka EPZ $76.14 million, Mongla EPZ $10.14 million, Cumilla EPZ $31.08 million, Uttara EPZ $31.02 million, Ishwardi EPZ $8.18 million, Adamjee EPZ $50.22 million and Karnaphuli EPZ received $50.90 million. The country attracted $3.61 billion in FDI in the same period.
The cumulative FDI at all EPZs stood over $5 billion till June 2019, said BEPZA.
EPZs employ over 19,500 people
During the last fiscal year, enterprises at eight EPZs hired 19,548 Bangladeshi nationals.
Among them 2,067 persons were at factories in the Chattogram EPZ, 1,482 in Dhaka, 1,565 in Mongla, 1,820 in Cumilla, 1,941 in Uttara, 1,357 in Ishwardi, 3,988 in Adamjee and 5,262 in Karnaphuli EPZ. Currently, 5,21,561 Bangladeshi nationals are working in eight EPZs, says BEPZA.