PM Sheikh Hasina asked authorities to work to attract more local and foreign investment

The Prime Minister gave the directives while addressing the third meeting of the governing board of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) at her office here this morning.

After the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.

Pointing out that 21 economic zones have already been established in the country, the Prime Minister said her government has been working to raise their number to 100 for creating more opportunities for investment, industrialisation and employment.

"It will further accelerate the economic progress of the country," she said.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said places for some economic zones have already been identified and she asked the authorities concerned to select more such places for setting up more economic zones.

Stressing the need for taking into consideration the potentiality of various regions, the Prime Minister said industries particularly small and medium ones will have to be established on the basis of availability of the resources in the concerned regions.

"The issue of communication system in those areas will also have to be taken into consideration," she said.

Putting emphasis on developing labour-intensive industries, Sheikh Hasina said such a move will create huge employment opportunities and asked the authorities concerned to focus on diversification of production, industrialisation and marketing.

The Prime Minister said the entrepreneurs willing to set up different types of industry could install power generation system at their own initiatives.

In this regard, she also placed emphasis on looking into the issue of a good communication system in selecting the economic zones and reminded the authorities concerned of keeping provisions for water reservoir and rain water storage system there.

Sheikh Hasina said the income capacity of the people has been increased significantly while the country's domestic market is being expanded for local products day by day.

In this context, the Prime Minister underscored the need for establishing domestic industries on the basis of demands for products in the international markets.

Sheikh Hasina also stressed the need for the setting up of more agro-processing industries as Bangladesh's land is very fertile. She also expressed her firm optimism about building Bangladesh as a middle-income country much before the target of 2021.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of the activities of the BEZA, the press secretary said.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Railways Minister Mazibul Haque, Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sharif, Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman, PM's Economic Affairs Advisor Dr Moshiur Rahman, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu, State Minister for Labour and Employment Muzibul Haque Chunnu and State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak attended the meeting.

Besides, Executive Chairman of Board of Investment Dr SA Samad, PM's Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad, Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim and secretaries concerned were present.