Total capital investment in the export processing zones in the country increased to US$152 million last fiscal. Sources in the Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA) said the rise in such investment marked a 35% over that in the same period of the previous financial year (2005-2006).

Enterprises invested US$87.46 million in Dhaka EPZ, followed by US$ 32.62 million in Chittagong EPZ, US$ 21.02 million in Comilla EPZ, US$ 7.68 million in Adamjee EPZ, US$ 1.24 million in Uttara EPZ, US$ 1.91 million in Karnaphuli EPZ and US$ 4.40 lakh in Mongla EPZ.

A total of 261 enterprises are now operating in the eight EPZs. Of them, 135 are in Chittagong EPZ, 91 in Dhaka EPZ, 16 in Comilla EPZ, 12 in Mongla EPZ, three in Uttara EPZ, one in Ishwardi EPZ and three in Adamjee EPZ. Another 152 enterprises are in different stages of implementation. The enterprises in the EPZs exported goods worth US$ 2,063.67 million during 2006-'07, which was US$ 1,836.18 million during 2005-'06. This shows an increase of 12%.

The total export earnings of the enterprises in the EPZs stood at US$ 13,165 million up to June 2007. Presently, 2,01,169 Bangladeshis and 1,120 foreign nationals are working at the eight EPZs in the country, of them, 64% are female workers.