The KEPZ, Korean Export Processing Zone, in Chattogram is showing continuous progress in developing the area by adding more factories, establishing ICT zones, opening design and development centers, inaugurating the country’s largest roof-top solar panel electricity generation, and inviting foreign companies, said Ambassador Lee Jang-Keun during his visit to the KEPZ on January 7, 2023.
The South Korean envoy and Ambassador Achim Troester of Germany visited the KEPZ yesterday and looked around the factories and other facilities in the compound, including the newly inaugurated German company Strauss. On October 24, last year, the renowned German outdoor and sportswear company Strauss officially opened its design and development center, the Strauss CI Factory Chattogram, inside the KEPZ. Around 200 people are currently employed in Chattogram, from product development to sales and marketing.
KEPZ has successfully installed and is operating the country’s largest single roof-top solar power plant with a capacity of 22 MW, which not only meets the zone’s electricity needs but is also linked to Bangladesh’s national grid. Ambassador Lee, together with State Minister for Energy Nasrul Hamid, inaugurated the KEPZ’s roof-top solar panel plant on June 20, 2021.
Ambassador Lee also said that the KEPZ’s ICT zone is well underway as planned. The ICT zone, which began construction in April of last year, held a groundbreaking ceremony with ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak in attendance at the final stage of completing two factory buildings.
According to the KEPZ, 43 factories are currently in operation, employing over 22,000 people. Eight more factories are under construction. KEPZ is the sole privately owned EPZ in the country and is operated by the Korean company Youngone Corporation, which is the first and the largest foreign investor in the RMG sector in Bangladesh.
