Jobs in EPZ rise by 8pc

Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) has achieved 8.0 per cent growth in terms of employment generation in 2015-16 fiscal year compared to the previous fiscal year, reports BSS. "The Export Processing Zones (EPZs) under BEPZA created employment opportunities for 33,551 Bangladeshi nationals while the figure was 31,084 in the fiscal year 2014-15," a BEPZA press release said yesterday.

Among the 33,551 new employments in the last fiscal year, 8306 manpower was added in Karnaphuli EPZ, 7124 in Uttara EPZ, 6154 in Chittagong EPZ, 6368 in Adamjee EPZ, 3330 in Dhaka EPZ, 2522 in Comilla EPZ and 15 in Mongla EPZ.

The BEPZA press release said currently 4,53,652 Bangladeshi nationals are working in 461 enterprises of EPZs under BEPZA, with 64.0 per cent being female workers indicating EPZs role in women empowerment in the country.

Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) exceeded the export target by US$676 million against the export target of $6,000 million for 2015-16 financial year (FY16).

In FY16, the enterprises of Chittagong EPZ exported goods worth of $2,419.71 million, Dhaka EPZ $2,183.9 million, Karnaphuli EPZ $823.28 million, Adamjee EPZ $562.91 million, Comilla EPZ $308.33 million, Mongla EPZ $74.66 million, Ishwardi EPZ $114.74 million and Uttara EPZ $188.8 million.