556 JV projects approved in five years

The government green-lit 556 joint venture investment projects worth Tk 82,000 crore in the last five years, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said yesterday.
It has also approved 306 industrial projects with a total investment of Tk 6,500 crore during the period, she said.
On foreign investment, she said a host of countries including Spain, Germany, Thailand, Australia, Japan, Singapore, China, France, Italy, South Korea, UK and India have made investments in various industrial and commercial sectors of Bangladesh during her previous tenure.
In a scripted reply, Hasina also said different industrial entrepreneurs of foreign countries have shown their keen interest to invest in the country’s agro-based industries, engineering industries, food, leather products, textile industries, service sectors and chemical industries.
The premier said her government has taken various measures to provide timely services to investors.
“Various infrastructural and investment related services are being provided to the investors through a one-stop service centre,” she said, adding that two private export processing zones and five economic zones are on way.
Hasina also informed the House about her government’s plan to eradicate poverty, welfare for freedom fighters, develop tourism sectors, ensure women rights and to increase fish production.
Replying to lawmakers’ queries, Hasina, also the leader of the House, said 233 foreign nongovernmental organisations, including 76 from the US, are operating in Bangladesh, where 342 foreign nationals and 15,815 Bangladeshis are employed.