Japan, the major development partner of Bangladesh, has expressed its firm determination to continue supporting Bangladesh’s ongoing development projects besides urging other foreign countries to invest here. “Bangladesh is now on historic stage of development and its GDP growth rate reached the highest in the world in the last 10 years,” Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Naoki Ito said.
The country has huge potential for growth as it has enjoyed demographics dividend for youths, and by born domestic market, he added. He mentioned that Japan government has reconfirmed commitment to support in vision 2021. Japan always stands beside Bangladesh and will continue in further economic growth, he added.
Naoki said the government of Bangladesh has made a lot of affords in improving investment climates for foreign countries including Japan, he said. He said, “Many Japanese companies is showing interest to make investment in Bangladesh’s economic zone especially Japanese economic zone at mirsarai and Araihazar.”
One Stop Service (OSS) that has recently launched for the businessman, it will help flourish hassle free service which will help to increase more FDI in economic zone, he added. However, Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) on Monday night formally launched its ‘One Stop Service (OSS) Centre’ for providing all necessary services to the investors of the economic zones at a single window.
Prime Minister’s private industry and investment adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman inaugurated the OSS centre as the chief guest with BEZA executive chairman Paban Chowdhury in the chair. Prime Minister’s principal secretary Md Nojibur Rahman, principal coordinator (SDG Affairs) to the Prime Minister’s Office Md Abul Kalam Azad, secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office Sajjadul Hassan, Japanese ambassador in Dhaka Naoki Ito, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Sheikh Fazle Fahim, and chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Bangladesh Hitoshi Hirata, amomg others , attended the ceremony as special guests.
BEZA executive member (additional secretary) Mohammed Ayub delivered the welcome address. In his speech, Salman F. Rahman said Bangladesh today is on the highway of development under the dynamic leader of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Through increasing the quality of services, he said, Bangladesh can make a positive change in the index position of ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and achieve the target of attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).
Under the OSS centre, Paban Chowdhury said, investors in the economic zones will get all sorts of services at a single window to start their business within a short time. He said BEZA OSS centre is the single window service for the EZ unit investors to provide hassle-free services under one roof.
“It enables domestic as well as international investors to get relevant government services such as submission of regulatory documents and obtaining of necessary permits or approvals both online and offline. BEZA OSS centre also welcomes to support and advice all the investors facing any issues on the business activities in Economic Zones,” he added.
In the inaugural function, BEZA signed three memorandums of understanding (MoU) with NBR, Department of Environment (DOE) and Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC) for providing their services online under the OSS centre.
