Govt plans 400-acre industrial park in Bogura

The government plans to establish a new industrial park on 400 acres of land in Bogura to meet rising demand from small and medium enterprises, Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, minister for commerce, industries and textiles, said yesterday.

Initial work on the proposed park could begin this winter, the minister said at a programme marking the assumption of office by the newly elected board of directors of the Bogura Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

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“The existing BSCIC (Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation) industrial estate in Bogura is already fully occupied, while demand for industrial plots among SME entrepreneurs continues to rise,” Muktadir said.

Considering the demand, the government has planned to establish the new BSCIC industrial park, he said.

He said Bogura had strong potential to emerge as an important industrial and economic hub, particularly in light engineering.

The government is working to improve infrastructure and the business environment to support industrial growth in the district, he said.

Muktadir also stressed the need to increase productivity and reduce the cost of finance to improve the competitiveness of local industries.

“It is difficult to run an industry or business successfully with high-cost loans,” he said, urging businesses to improve efficiency and productivity while gaining access to cheaper financing.

The government is also working to improve electricity and energy supplies, simplify gas connections and expand access to lower-cost financing, he said.

The proposed industrial park will offer more than industrial plots and basic infrastructure, Muktadir said. It will also provide technical training, skills development and other support for entrepreneurs to establish and operate factories.

Entrepreneurs setting up factories in the park will also be eligible for relatively low-cost loans under the government’s credit wholesaling scheme, he added.

Earlier, Muktadir visited the proposed site of the industrial park in Fapore union of Bogura Sadar upazila.

Sheikh Robiul Alam, minister for road transport and bridges, inaugurated the chamber’s programme, while Mir Shah Alam, state minister for local government, rural development and cooperatives, attended as a special guest.

MSM Atikur Rahman Badal, president of the Bogura Chamber of Commerce and Industry, delivered the welcome address.

The newly elected directors were introduced at the event, followed by discussions on their responsibilities, future plans and the expansion of services for the local business community.