Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) secured a record $718 million in investment proposals during fiscal year 2025-26, marking its highest-ever annual investment commitment and underscoring growing foreign investor confidence in the country’s export processing zones.
According to BEPZA, 36 companies from China, South Korea, Singapore, the UAE, the British Virgin Islands, Samoa and Bangladesh signed lease agreements during the fiscal year to establish new manufacturing facilities. The proposed investments are expected to generate employment for more than 75,700 Bangladeshis once the projects become operational.
The new investments span a wide range of diversified manufacturing sectors, including electrical and electronic products, drones, footwear, leather goods, fashion accessories, light engineering products, processed foods and agricultural products, reflecting a continued shift beyond traditional garment manufacturing.
BEPZA also reported $286 million in actual investment during FY26, while net foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into its zones reached $221.58 million during the first nine months of the fiscal year, accounting for nearly 20% of Bangladesh’s total net FDI.
Despite a slight decline in the country’s overall exports, exports from BEPZA zones increased 2.2% to $8.41 billion in FY26. Employment in the zones also reached a record 558,691 workers, reinforcing BEPZA’s role as a key driver of industrial growth, export diversification and foreign investment in Bangladesh.
