Export earnings of enterprises in Bangladesh's export processing zones (EPZs) during the first 11 months of the last fiscal year exceeded that of the previous fiscal year by about 97 million U.S. dollars.

The enterprises of the EPZs fetched exporting earnings to the tune of over 1.645 billion dollars during the first 11 months of fiscal 2005-06 (July 2005-June 2006) against over 1.548 billion dollars of fiscal 2004-05, local daily The Financial Express reported Thursday.

The enterprises of the EPZs since inception have exported goods worth over 11.65 billion dollars up to May 2006 while more than 958.28 million dollars were invested in their 237 operating industrial units, Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority ( BEPZA) Public Relations Manager Nazma Binte Alamgir was quoted as saying.

A total of 91.27 million dollars was invested in the EPZs from July 2005 to May 2006.

The BEPZA sanctioned 38 new industrial units during the 11- month period. Of them, 28 are foreign, four under joint ventures and the remaining six are Bangladeshi-owned, said Nazma.

The operating industrial units of the EPZs generated employment opportunities for 21,160 Bangladeshi nationals during the 11 months.

On the other hand, since the inception, a total of 175,948 persons including 174,845 Bangladeshis and 1,103 foreigners have been employed in the EPZs.

Source: Xinhua