Economic Zone Authority to launch one-stop service centre today

The Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (Beza) is going to officially launch a one-stop service centre today to bring all necessary services to investors of the economic zones under a single window.

Salman F Rahman, private sector industry and investment adviser to the prime minister, will be present as the chief guest at the event this evening at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.

The launching will introduce four new services – TIN registration, VAT registration, environment assessment and environmental certificate.

The Economic Zone Authority had already begun to offer 11 services from its on-trial service centre, including project registration, clearance, visa assistance, visa recommendation, import permit, export permit, work permit etc.

Paban Chowdhury, executive chairman of Beza, told The Business Standard, "Beza is working to create global-standard infrastructure for investors and the government is also providing investment-friendly policy support."

The one-stop centre will facilitate hassle-free services for investors, he said.

The investors will get 125 services under 27 categories by June 30 next year, Paban added.

In its second board meeting in early 2015, Beza decided to provide more than 150 types of services through the one-stop service centre.

Parliament passed the One-Stop Service Act 2018 to make compulsory for 25 investment facilitating agencies and regulatory authorities to offer registration, issue clearance, permits and other documents within maximum 45 days.

The act asked the government agencies to immediately introduce one-stop service centres.

However, after 20 months of the law coming into effect, the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida), the Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (Bepza) and the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority are yet to introduce a complete one-stop service centre.

Md Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, the former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries, told The Business Standard that the one-stop service centre will reduce the time and cost of business in Bangladesh.

He urged the authorities concerned to introduce the full operation of the service centre immediately.

To ensure further services, the authority is going to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms, the Department of Environment, and the National Board of Revenue today.