A brighter prospect for industrialisation prevails in Rangpur region that might emerge soon as the centre for international business, trade and commerce of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN).
“This region is mainly characterised by potential agro-based economy and prospect for setting up multi-dimensional agro-based and other industries,” said senior vice-president of Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) Mostafa Ahmed.
The fertile agrarian region has abundance of cheap labour and produces huge rice, wheat and maize, cash crops like sugarcane and jute, fruits like mango, jack-fruits, banana, papaya and many vegetable varieties like potato, tomato and bean annually.
Director of RCCI Mozammel Hossain Dambel said increased cultivation of
vegetables, spices and tropical fruits in the region could supply raw
materials to the agro- processing industries for both domestic and export markets.
“The year-round abundance of agro- products will attract both local and foreign investors to set up food-processing and agro-based industries for marketing products locally and exporting to the region and globe as a whole,” he added.
Director of FBCCI Mosaddek Hossain Bablu said, “The economy of Rangpur region is mainly agro-based that also requires substantial amount of fertiliser and pesticides. But, there are no such industries in the region so far.”
He said fertiliser and pesticides industries could be established on joint ventures in order to absorb some part of labour force and fulfill the demand of these products in the region.
RCCI President Md Abul Kashem said the present government would soon set up special economic zone in the region to attract local and foreign investors for industrialisation on joint ventures.
“The prospect of establishing private sector educational institutions on joint ventures is brighter as many private medical colleges and other institutions are providing world class education successfully to students of BBIN countries in Rangpur city,” he said.
The government has also decided to set up ICT Village and IT Park in
Rangpur region to encourage private sector for launching joint ventures to utilise potential of the educated youths for computer software development, data entry and data processing.
“To expand regional business, trade and commerce, we can explore potentials of Uttara Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and Syedpur airport in Nilphamari and five major land ports located in this region for industrialisation of the region,” Kashem said.
Former vice-president of FBCCI Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu suggested the government to upgrade Syedpur airport situated near the Uttara EPZ, 42-kilometre off from Rangpur city, to an international airport.
Taking the advantage of running cargo aircrafts from Syedpur airport and regional road connectivity, the other countries could be encouraged for joint investments in setting up various industries in this region, he said.
“We put special emphasis on regional road connectivity and use of land ports for speeding up industrialisation on joint ventures in the region to expand regional trade, business and commerce among the BBIN countries,” Babu said.
Besides, there is a brighter prospect for joint investments in tourism sector as thousands of people from home and abroad are visiting dozens of places of historical interests and tourist attractions annually in the northern region.
Babu invited his colleagues of BBIN countries for setting up large, medium, small industries on joint ventures in this region having huge resources to explore local as well as foreign markets to further boost regional economy, relation and development, reports BSS from Rangpur.
