Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) is set to formally launch its ‘One Stop Service (OSS) Centre’ in January aiming to provide all the necessary services to the investors of the economic zones in a single window.
“BEZA is now providing 11 services under the OSS centre. We’ll formally inaugurate the centre in January since all preparations have been taken in this regard,” said BEZA Executive Chairman Paban Chowdhury.
The ‘One Stop Service Act’ has already been enacted and the rules for the One-Stop Service have been prepared, he said, adding that software for the OSS centre is being developed with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
JICA has developed the OSS centre under the ‘Project for Promoting Investment and Enhancing Industrial Competitiveness in Bangladesh’.
Paban said Bangladesh will enter into a new era by introduction of the full-fledged ‘One Stop Service’ so that the country can make a positive change in the ‘Ease of Doing Business’.
“The potential investors would get all other necessary permissions, including permissions of various utility services like power, gas, water and telephone from the centre, for starting a business here,” he added.
The one-stop service centre will significantly bring down the time to avail utility services, the BEZA chief said, claiming that an investor would get power connection in 21 days while the construction permit by 37 days.
Describing the one-stop service as a web-based one, he said previously investors had to apply physically and go door-to-door of all service providers to get permissions for getting utility connections and other services.
“With the launching of the one stop service centre, investors can apply through a single web-based application. They can also track the progress of their applications online,” he said.
Under the Bangladesh Economic Zones Act 2010, BEZA had been established to set up Economic Zones (EZs) in the country’s potential areas. BEZA is implementing a plan to establish 100 EZs by 2030 on 75,000 acres of land to fetch more investment as well as to create employment for 10 million people and increasing export earnings, according to BSS.
The broad objectives of BEZA are structural transformation of the country’s economy through attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), diversifying export, promoting skill development, sharing knowledge, generating employment, ensuring dynamic benefits for the domestic industry, and social and environmental sustainability.
BEZA is playing a regulatory role in establishing EZs. BEZA is appointing developers under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model to develop the EZs. Private sector is also establishing EZs by acquiring license from BEZA.