BEPZA's 45 years: $125b export powerhouse transforming country’s economy

The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), a pioneer investment promotion agency, stepped into its 46th year of operations on Wednesday, marking four and a half decades of transformative impact on industrialisation, exports, and employment.

Operating under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), BEPZA’s journey began following the BEPZA Act 1980, an initiative aimed at attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) during the post-independence economic reconstruction.

The entity officially commenced its journey via a gazette notification on April 15, 1981, eventually ushering in a new era of export-led growth with the launch of Chattogram EPZ in 1983.

BEPZA has grown from a visionary initiative into a key driver of the national economy and a global branding platform for “Made in Bangladesh.”

Although the EPZs occupy less than 0.001 percent of the country’s total land area-around 3,550 acres-they play a significant role in export earnings and foreign investment, reports BSS.

In the 2024-25 fiscal years, BEPZA zones accounted for 17.03 percent of national exports and 19.47 percent of total foreign direct investment (FDI).

Over the past 45 years, the authority has attracted $7.29 billion in investment and facilitated exports worth over $125 billion.

The efficiency of the zones is reflected in the contribution of each acre of land, which generates approximately Taka 13.82crore annually for the economy.