The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) plans to establish 20 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) over the next 20 years, in three phases. This was announced today at a national workshop titled "Economic Zone Prioritization and Phasing Offsite Infrastructure Planning and Development Mechanism," held at the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) conference room in Dhaka. The workshop, chaired by BEZA and BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, featured World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, Gayle Martin, as the special guest. The event brought together various stakeholders to develop a National Master Plan for the country’s planned economic zones. In his address, Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun emphasized BEZA's commitment to crafting strategies, developing infrastructure, and creating incentive schemes that align investor interests with BEZA’s activities. "Collaboration with foreign investors is essential for advancing a shared economic agenda. Our industrial development must focus on key aspects like reducing import dependency, utilizing trade routes, diversifying the trade basket, and expanding production and export of higher-value products," he said. He further stressed BEZA’s dedication to ensuring that the economic zones promote industrialization, sustainable development, and inclusivity, with environmental considerations, job creation, skills development, and regional balance as fundamental components of the master plan. "We are also fostering partnerships with the private sector through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and Government-to-Government (G2G) collaborations to ensure effective implementation," he added. Gayle Martin from the World Bank reaffirmed her organization’s support for Bangladesh's ambitious industrialization goals. "We look forward to working with BEZA, the government, private investors, and all stakeholders to create a sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive economic zone ecosystem," she said. The event also featured a presentation by Aradhna Aggarwal, Senior Advisor for the 'Trade, Technology and Skills' team at the National Council of Applied Economic Research, India, and international consultant on SEZs at the Asian Development Bank. She discussed the "Study of National Master Plan for Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority." Abdullah Al Mahmud Faruk, Project Director of the National Special Economic Zone Development Project, delivered the welcome address, noting BEZA's goal to transform Bangladesh into a global investment hub by ensuring sustainable and inclusive industrialization. "As we move toward becoming a developed country, it is essential to accelerate industrial development in alignment with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Well-planned economic zones will be crucial for diversifying exports, attracting foreign investment, creating jobs, and ensuring environmental sustainability," he said. Aradhna Aggarwal explained that the implementation of the economic zone development would occur in three phases: short-term (0-5 years), medium-term (5-10 years), and long-term (10-20 years). "Out of 66 proposed government economic zones, 46 were excluded from the phasing exercise, and 20 zones were segregated into three phases," she added.