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Inaugural
Ceremony of
Adamjee Export Processing Zone
Speech
by Special Guest Mr. M. Morshed Khan, MP
Honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs
Adamjee Nagar, Siddirganj, Narayanganj
March 06, 2006.
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Honourable Prime Minister
Hon'ble Ministers
Respected Members of the Parliament
Excellencies
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assalamu Alaikum and good afternoon,
I
am delighted and honoured to be able to attend the inaugural
ceremony of the Adamjee Export Processing Zone organized
by Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA).
You are all aware that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman
had the vision and foresight in founding EPZs in Bangladesh.
He had taken the significant decision to set up the
EPZs for economic emancipation and poverty alleviation
through rapid industrialization.
Distinguished
Guests,
The present Government is determined to ensure overall
economic development of Bangladesh and to generate employment
for all its able-bodied citizens. National Parliament
of Bangladesh had passed an act to create BEPZA in 1980
in order to stimulate rapid economic development of
the country. It entrusted the BAPZA to establish, manage
and operate the export processing zones. Since then
BEPZA has been relentlessly carrying forward its task
for export promotion by expanding the EPZs. Under the
guidance of the present Government, EPZs are being appropriately
developed for setting up labour intensive as well as
high-tech industries and relocation of sun-set industries
from abroad. The EPZs are considered profitable places
for investment because of the low production cost for
various structural reasons at a time when production
cost in the competitive world market has been going
upward. Today, the 233 enterprises in the EPZs have
generated employment for one hundred and sixty eight
thousand people. Now with the addition of the Adamjee
EPZ, the opportunity for new investment in the country
will expand further.
Some forty thousand workers went jobless when the Adamjee
Jute Mills had to be closed down due to continuous loss.
The courageous step taken by the Government to close
the Adamjee Jute Mills and transform it into an EPZ,
I an confident, would result in the resumption of economic
momentum and creation of new jobs. With its establishment,
more than hundred thousand jobs will be created. This
is undoubtedly a positive step forward.
Distinguished
Guests,
Increased foreign investment, export promotion, foreign
exchange earnings and poverty reducing employment generation
are needed to achieve vigorous economic development.
The present Government has identified private investment
as the prime mover for economic growth and expansion.
Bangladesh is getting international recognition as an
attractive, potential investment destination as a result
of the constructive steps taken by the Government. Today,
Bangladesh has been widely recognized in Asia and beyond
as a "new rising star" for foreign investment.
Internationally acclaimed Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has
cited Bangladesh among eleven developing countries that
have the greatest potential to attract foreign investment
and achieve long-term economic success.
I sincerely believe that the present Government, under
the able and forward looking leadership and directives
of Hon'ble Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, has ushered
in another landmark in the economic and industrial arena
through the establishment of the Adamjee EPZ. I wish
Adamjee EPZ a grand success and all the best to everyone
connected with it.
I thank you all.
Allah Hafez
Bangladesh Zindabad
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