South Korean investors ahead of others in EPZs | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Sunday
July 13, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2025
South Korean investors ahead of others in EPZs

Economy

Jahir Rayhan
21 November, 2021, 03:30 pm
Last modified: 21 November, 2021, 05:31 pm

Related News

  • South Korean medical students to return to school, urge education reforms
  • South Korea to follow previously agreed terms on defence cost sharing with US: Yonhap
  • South Korea's former President Yoon to attend hearing on detention warrant
  • South Korea court to hold July 9 hearing on ex-leader Yoon's detention warrant
  • South Korea prosecutors file request to detain ex-president Yoon

South Korean investors ahead of others in EPZs

In FY21, companies operating in the EPZs exported goods worth $6.64 billion, which was 17.14% of the country’s total export income that year

Jahir Rayhan
21 November, 2021, 03:30 pm
Last modified: 21 November, 2021, 05:31 pm

South Korea currently has the highest number of investors – 71, who have put their money in export processing zones (EPZs) in Bangladesh. 

Besides, 56 investors from China, 28 from Hong Kong, 31 from Japan, 25 from Taiwan, and 20 investors from India have invested in the EPZs, which are contributing hugely to the country's export earnings, foreign investment and employment.

A favourable investment atmosphere is drawing more foreign companies to EPZs. Kido Industrial Company, a renowned apparel manufacturer based in South Korea, is one of them. 

The company has announced to invest $36.17 million in the Adamjee EPZ to establish a new company and renovate an existing firm that it recently acquired.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

The company will make high-value products including motorcycle safety jackets, leather jackets, and fibre jackets. 

There are many skilled workers in this sector in Bangladesh, said Joseph Ahn, director of Kido Dhaka Co Ltd.

Bangladeshi national Md Zahirul Islam, general manager (operations) of the company, told The Business Standard that the establishments of EPZs have created opportunities for local people to work with foreign companies.

"I have about 12 years of working experience in EPZs. I can apply my experience in Kido Dhaka Company Limited," he said.

Apart from local entrepreneurs, investors from 38 countries – including China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Sri Lanka, Canada, Malaysia, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, Pakistan, Denmark, and France – currently have an investment in the EPZs here.

Economists attribute this success of EPZs to the availability of cheap labour and timely decisions of the government.

Besides, a good working environment has made the EPZs an attractive place to invest in – for both domestic and foreign investors.

Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), told TBS that EPZs are playing an important role in Bangladesh compared to other countries.

"It is shown as a model. Dhaka and Chittagong EPZs have received many large investments. As foreign investors come up with new ideas and technologies, our entrepreneurs can learn from them. They can reform them [ideas and technologies] later.

"Local people are working in foreign industrial factories where they are coming to know about different technologies. As a result, technology is being transferred."

Mentioning that land in EPZs is in high demand among investors because of a good working environment, Moazzem said new EPZs should be developed quickly.

Bepza General Manager (public relations) Nazma Binte Alamgir told TBS that no plot is vacant in Chittagong EPZ, Dhaka EPZ, Cumilla EPZ, Karnaphuli EPZ, and Adamjee EPZ.

There are one or two plots vacant in the other EPZs, she mentioned, adding but those too were allotted.

The Bepza executive further said as both local and foreign investors are showing interest in investing in the EPZs, the government will establish three new EPZs Patuakhali, Jashore and Gaibandha.

Besides, the Bepza Economic Zone is being set up on a 1,150-acre land in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Industrial City, she added. Already, 78 companies have applied for more than 250 plots in the EPZ and initially 119 plots have been allotted.

There will be 539 plots in Bepza EZ, she said, adding once the economic zone is fully operational, it will create about 5 lakh jobs.

Mentioning that about 4,60,000 workers are employed in the eight EPZs, Nazma said Bepza has set a unique example in the case of female employment as 67% of the total employees are women.

Healthcare centres, transport and day-care facilities are among the services available for EPZ workers, she listed. 

Quality products of many global brands are being made in the EPZs, which are in high demand in the international market.

Of the 10 Lead Platinum Certified Factories in the world, seven are in Bangladesh and five of them are in EPZs, she added.

EPZs account 20% of export

According to official data, about 20% of Bangladesh's total export income now comes from the eight EPZs where 457 industrial units are currently in production.

Data provided by the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza) show that in the 2020-21 fiscal year, the eight EPZs exported goods worth $6.64 billion, which was 17.14% of the country's total export income that year.

In the first four months (July-October) of the current fiscal, export income from the EPZs stood at $2.58 billion. 

The total investment made in the EPZs currently stands at $5.71 billion, creating 4,54,708 jobs.

In FY21, the EPZs got $337.76 million in new investment and job opportunities were created for 47,131 people.

Diversified products are being made in these EPZ – built for 100% export-oriented investment – for world-renowned brands.

Encouraged by a huge response from investors, the government has planned to establish three new EPZs.

Besides, work is underway to establish the Bepza Economic Zone at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Industrial City in Mirsharai, Chattogram.

Top News

South Korean investors / south korea / EPZ / EPZs / EPZ factories / Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEPZA) / Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA)

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury at the 11th meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Law and Order on Sunday, 13 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Combing operation may begin at any time to catch identified criminals: Home adviser
  • Representational image/Collected
    Mitford murder: 2 more accused arrested
  • Photo shows the twelfth day of the National Consensus Commission’s meeting with political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in Bailey Road, Dhaka on Sunday, 13 July 2025. Photo:TBS
    Consensus reached on emergency declaration reform

MOST VIEWED

  • RAB Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman speaks at the press briefing on a fake bomb threat on Biman Bangladesh flight on Saturday, 12 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Mother faked bomb threat on Biman flight to stop married son from flying with girlfriend: RAB
  • Bangladeshi garment workers make clothing in the sewing section of a factory in Gazipur, Bangladesh, April 9, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain/File Photo
    Some Walmart garment orders from Bangladesh on hold due to US tariff threat
  • Infographic: TBS
    Dollar price plummets by Tk2.9 in a week as demand wanes
  • Bangladesh and US hold tariff talks on 11 July 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    Dhaka, Washington yet to agree on 20% of US tariff conditions: BGMEA
  • Infograph: TBS
    Matarbari power plant eyes G2G coal deal with Indonesia after quality setbacks
  • Dr Mohammad Zakir Hossain, managing director of Delta Pharma Ltd and secretary general of the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI). Sketch: TBS
    Pharma industry grew with policy support, needs it again to survive: BAPI secretary general

Related News

  • South Korean medical students to return to school, urge education reforms
  • South Korea to follow previously agreed terms on defence cost sharing with US: Yonhap
  • South Korea's former President Yoon to attend hearing on detention warrant
  • South Korea court to hold July 9 hearing on ex-leader Yoon's detention warrant
  • South Korea prosecutors file request to detain ex-president Yoon

Features

The 2020 Harrier's Porsche Cayenne coupe-like rear roofline, integrated LED lighting with the Modellista special bodykit all around, and a swanky front grille scream OEM Plus for the sophisticated enthusiast looking for a bigger family car that isn’t boring. PHOTO: Ahbaar Mohammad

2020 Toyota Harrier Hybrid: The Japanese Macan

23h | Wheels
The showroom was launched through a lavish event held there, and in attendance were DHS Motors’ Managing Director Nafees Khundker, CEO Imran Zaman Khan, and GMs Arman Rashid and Farhan Samad. PHOTO: Akif Hamid

GAC inaugurate flagship showroom in Dhaka

1d | Wheels
After India's visa restriction, China's Kunming is drawing Bangladeshi patients

After India's visa restriction, China's Kunming is drawing Bangladeshi patients

1d | Panorama
Photo: Collected/BBC

What Hitler’s tariff policy misfire can teach the modern world

2d | The Big Picture

More Videos from TBS

Legal fight if 'Shapla' symbol is not given: NCP

Legal fight if 'Shapla' symbol is not given: NCP

45m | TBS Today
Prisoner sentenced to prison for not showing news of president in Tunisia

Prisoner sentenced to prison for not showing news of president in Tunisia

3h | TBS World
The price of the dollar is falling; how much can it fall?

The price of the dollar is falling; how much can it fall?

4h | TBS Stories
110 killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza

110 killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza

5h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net