The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Investors’ Association (BEZIA) have agreed to jointly advocate for policy and infrastructure reforms to create a more investor-friendly environment in Bangladesh’s economic zones.
The decision came at a bilateral meeting held at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara on 10 August, where the organisations discussed investment opportunities, infrastructure challenges and policy barriers affecting investors.
Around 39,000 acres of land have been allocated across five government economic zones prioritised for development, but only 27 industrial units are currently in production. Both organisations said slow infrastructure development and limited utility services are weakening investor confidence.
BGMEA and BEZIA will jointly raise issues including shortages of gas and industrial water, utility service charges before factories become operational, and unequal incentive structures for economic-zone investors.
They also called for the removal of 15% VAT on lease tariffs, arguing that investors face double taxation at the master and sub-lease levels. Other proposals include simplifying deemed-export procedures, making 99-year lease mutations bankable and ensuring the One-Stop Service (OSS) becomes fully operational.
BEZIA President M. A. Jabbar noted that BGMEA has 41 unit investors in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar in Mirsarai, Chattogram, creating scope for stronger institutional cooperation.
Both organisations expressed optimism that joint advocacy would accelerate infrastructure development, improve utility services, remove policy barriers and attract new investment to Bangladesh’s economic zones.
