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JICA inaugurates one-stop service centre at BSEZ in Narayanganj

November 29, 2023, 09:39 AM

JICA inaugurates one-stop service centre at BSEZ in Narayanganj

Staff Reporter

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) helps Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) in setting up a regional one-stop service centre at Bangladesh Special Economic Zone (BSEZ) in Araihazar, Narayanganj, to ensure seamless solutions to investors.

The centre was inaugurated Tuesday as a significant milestone under JICA‍‍`s Technical Cooperation titled ‍‍`Special Economic Zone Management and Investment Promotion Capacity Building Project‍‍` at an event in Narayanganj, said a press release, BSS reports.

With the greater objective to strengthen BEZA‍‍`s functions and capabilities, the centre seeks to streamline and enhance efficiency of services for businesses operating within the economic zone.

The regional one-stop service centre will act as a centralised hub for various administrative processes, including licensing, permits, and customs clearance, among other regulatory requirements.

BSEZ is the country‍‍`s pioneered special economic zone or industrial park that meets international standards. JICA supports the government‍‍`s infrastructure advancement financing with Japanese ODA loans.

"The regional One-Stop Service Centre at BSEZ is a testament to the continued collaboration between Japan and Bangladesh. This centre will play a pivotal role in facilitating business operations within the BSEZ and bolstering the country‍‍`s overall investment environment by acting as a role model for other economic zones in Bangladesh," said ICHIGUCHI Tomohide, Chief Representative at JICA Bangladesh.

JICA supports BSEZ Limited through equity-backed financing to the Bangladeshi government through the Japanese ODA loan programme and direct investment in BSEZ Limited through private-sector investment financing.

The inaugural event was also attended by BEZA Executive Chairman Shaikh Yusuf Harun, as chief guest, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Kiminori Iwama as guest of honour; and Managing Director at Bangladesh SEZ Limited  Taro Kawachi as guest.

JICA‍‍`s investment promotion project aims to improve investment in economic zone environment by establishing a self-operational structure of central and regional one-stop service centres. The newly inaugurated regional one-stop centre stands as a tangible outcome of the project, contributing to realising a more efficient and business-friendly environment within the zones.