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KEPZ ‘symbol’ of close business ties with Bangladesh


Published : 04 Nov 2020 09:36 PM | Updated : 04 Nov 2020 09:36 PM

The Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) is a ‘symbol’ of close business cooperation between Bangladesh and South Korea.

New South Korean Ambassador Lee Jang-keun visited the economic hub on Wednesday and interacted with the officials of different companies.

The embassy said KEPZ is the first private EPZ in Bangladesh which was inaugurated in October, 1999 under the agreement of the Bangladesh government and Youngone Corporation of the Republic of Korea.

The Youngone Corporation started development of the Korean EPZ after obtaining the environmental certificate from the Bangladesh government in January 2009, and it now hosts more than 32 factories in the zone, employing around 25,000 local workers.

Youngone is not only the first Korean investment in Bangladesh in 1980 but also the first foreign company to invest in the RMG sector. Currently Youngone employs 69,000 people in Bangladesh.

Ambassador Lee also visited other Korean companies investing in Chattogram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) on Tuesday.

There are 24 Korean companies in the Chattogram area, most of which are located in CEPZ. There are 73 Korean companies operating in EPZs across the country which makes Korea the largest foreign investor in Bangladesh EPZs.