Industries Minister Khandker Abdul Muktadir has said the government plans to expand industrialisation across the country to create employment opportunities and reduce unemployment, reports UNB.
He made the remarks on Saturday while visiting the Thakurgaon BSCIC Food Processing Industrial Estate.
The minister said a large industrial park is being developed in the district to accelerate industrialisation and create employment opportunities for around 25,000 people.
“Unemployment must be reduced through job creation. To achieve that goal, new factories and investments are being encouraged,” he said.
Muktadir said the new industrial park is being constructed on nearly 50 acres of land in Thakurgaon, where 251 plots will be allocated for industrial use.
“Entrepreneurs will be able to take two, three or even four plots to establish industries,” he added.
The minister also said initiatives are being taken in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture to promote export-oriented agricultural production in Thakurgaon.
He noted that special importance would be given to potato-based industries as Bangladesh produces a large quantity of potatoes but lacks sufficient export-quality varieties.
“We will work to develop new potato varieties suitable for export,” he said.
Muktadir further said an Export Processing Zone (EPZ) is already operating in Thakurgaon, where entrepreneurs are running various businesses.
He added that the new BSCIC industrial estate would primarily focus on food processing industries and that several investors had already shown interest in establishing factories there.
Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rafiqul Haque, entrepreneurs from the BSCIC industrial estate and local BNP leaders were present during the visit.
Later, the minister inspected several factories at the old BSCIC industrial estate in Thakurgaon before leaving for Panchagarh.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
