ECNEC okays 8 projects including economic zone for Japan

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved eight projects, including one to set up an economic zone in Narayanganj for Japanese investors spending Tk 25.82 billion, reports UNB.

The approval came from the weekly ECNEC meeting held at the NEC conference room in the city with ECNEC chairperson and prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The ECNEC meeting cleared a total of eight projects involving the estimated cost of Tk 62.76 billion, said planning minister MA Mannan while briefing reporters after the meeting.

Of the total cost, Tk 3,3.14 billion will be borne from the national exchequer, while Tk 29.62 billion as foreign assistance, he said adding that all the approved projects are fresh ones.

About the economic zone project, the minister said the 'Development of Infrastructure for Japanese Economic Zone at Araihazar in Narayaganj Project' involving the estimated cost of Tk 25.82 billion will be implemented by June 2023.

Of the project cost, Tk 4.54 billion will come from the government fund, while the rest Tk 21.28 billion as project assistance from Japan through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), he said.

Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), the project-implementing agency, will develop land, construct access roads and set up a power plant, substation, transmission lines and gas pipelines under the project.