The Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) is expected to begin its journey in a few months by starting to set up its first industrial unit, claimed to be the world’s largest shoe manufacturing factory.
Kihak Sung, chairman of Korean company Youngone Corporation that owns the KEPZ, in an interview said depending on the market situation his company will pump in $70-100 million to set up the factory in phases from May.
The factory with 72 assembly lines will employ 15,000 people when completed. It will produce more than 100,000 pairs of shoes every day–30 million pairs a year–for exporting.
According to Sung, this will be the world’s biggest shoe factory.
“This will be a test case for the KEPZ. We have to see the glitches and problems that any new investor might face. We will correct them accordingly before opening the KEPZ for others,” Sung said at his Dhaka residence late last week.
“Why begin with a shoe factory? Because it involves many people,” he said, emphasising that the success of the KEPZ depends on cooperation of the government and the locals.
Given licence to operate in May last year after an unusual delay of seven years, the KEPZ stands out from all other EPZs in the country. It plans to install 500 industrial units with an investment of $1 billion. It would directly employ about 100,000 people.
Sung said a lot of infrastructure work needs to be done to launch the exclusive zone completely. Immediately, it needs a workable bridge connection and smooth supply of electricity and gas, he added.
The Chittagong region has been experiencing acute power and gas shortage for the last few years.
“This is another reason for picking up a shoe factory which does not demand huge electricity. I need 10 megawatts of good quality electricity,” Sung said, adding that if there is not enough electricity, the KEPZ will have to take extra initiatives.
The Youngone Group had recently set up a shoe factory in Chittagong EPZ successfully.
Between 1999 and 2003, Youngone invested about Tk 100 crore to procure 2,500 acres of land for the EPZ and develop it under the private EPZ law.
However, it could not open the zone as the BNP-led four-party alliance government declined to give it operating licence without any explicit reasons.
Youngone started its operation in Bangladesh back in 1978 and grew into a massive company with exports standing close to $300 million a year.
Categories: Economy, News, Politics
February 25th, 2008 at 5:06 am
Bangladesh government must provide all possible assistance to KEPZ. The communication across karnaphuly river must be mordernised, energy supply situation must be improved. Bangladesh must immediately talk to Myanmar and arrange import of gas . Smooth and reliable energy supply situation in Chitagong will change the face of the country in 10 years.KEPZ may employ many bangladeshis-specially persons from Hill districts. If the souhtern side of Karnaphuly grows as expected the law and order situation will improve to a great extent.Government must strengthen coat gurads and navy to effectively police the CTG coast and check smuggling.
March 21st, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Date: March 21, 2008
Dear Sirs,
Career Opportunity: Environment/Forestry/Park management
I have learnt that KEPZ has taken a huge program for development 2500 Ha area at Chittagong. Its my pleasure to express my sincere desire to work with KEPZ as a Consultant /Advisor for environmental development of the huge area of KEPZ. As I have been working for last twenty five years in government’s forest industries and in the multinational plantation industry with practical multidisciplinary work experiences including research, training and inspection, production, quality control, biodiversity and diversified cropping culture, environmental management and business activities, I visited and studied in several world famous institutions and learnt about forestry, forest products, plantation crops and environmental aspects including habitats of plants and animals and had the opportunity to learn the high technique practices with enthusiasm. While working in the multinational organization, I have devoted myself in habitat research of forestry and plantation crops and published several books on “Plantation Crops and Organic Farming” which are studied in the Universities. I have prepared several training manuals on Forestry and Plantation Crops viz., Timber, Tea, Rubber, Canes and Black Pepper etc.
I am familiar with many national and international research and development organizations like Forestry, Environment, Plantation Crops and Permaculture Consultancy and Research (FEPPCAR),Bangladesh Center for Advance Studies (BCAS), Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Ecoagriculture Partners, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology (IAAST) and on the last 22nd October 2007, I submitted “A Few Proposals for Sustainable Agriculture and Development” to the World Bank through IAAST.
I am confident that, I can contribute advance practical knowledge with industrial background for the well planned environmental development of KEPZ I am attaching herewith my resume for ready reference.
RESUMÉ
Mohammed Ataur Rahman
Address:
Rasna House, (C/o. Janani Pharmacy) Uttar Khan Mazar Chourastha, Holding No. 1835, Uttar Khan, Dhaka 1231, Bangladesh
Mobile:
8801711821908, 8801714075911
Email:
ar_forest@yahoo.com
marahman@feppcar.org
ar.forest@hotmail.com
Website:
http://www.feppcar.org
http://www.hcercsrd.org
Professional Statement
I am a highly skilled Senior Planter working as Manager, Forestry and Plantation Crops, with 13 years of experience in the Finlays’ Plantation Industry of Bangladesh working with a number of the World’s leading brands including Finlay Tea, Timber, Rubber, Canes and Black pepper etc. I possess specialised knowledge of environmental and habitat of Tropical Forest Plants, especially, Tea and Rubber crops. I am also highly experienced with plantation establishment and management of plantation crops viz. timber, coconut, bamboo and spices etc. and forest resource exploitation and with specialisation in wood preservation techniques. I am actively associated with multidisciplinary activities like ecoagriculture, organic farming, permaculture, multiple and multi-strata cropping culture for sustainable rural livelihood. I participated in the consultation meeting for preparation of 1st Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (I-PRSP), as a resource person for Agriculture (Crops, Fisheries and Livestock) including Forestry, held on April 29, 2004 at Bangladesh Rural Development Training Institute, Sylhet and on the last 22nd October 2007, I also submitted “A Few Proposals for Sustainable Agriculture and Development” to the World Bank through International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology (IAAST).
Before joining Finlays, I served Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation (BFIDC) and Rural Electrification Board (REB) of Bangladesh for twelve years with significant contribution in development of forest industries and timber products.
Key Strengths
• Strong communicator both written and oral in Bengali and English
• Keen observation and strong documentation skills
• Excellent management and organizing skills
• In-depth research and analytical ability and attention to detail
• Overseas experiences on Forestry, Plantation Crops and Park Management, Timber Extraction, Lumber Processing and Timber Drying and Preservation
• Specialization in Wood Preservation Techniques and Surface Coatings
• Evaluation of Wood Preservatives and Pesticides.
• Habitat research, Homestead farming and diversified cropping culture
Professional Experience
October 10, 1994 – present: Senior Manager, Forestry, Forest Products and Crop Diversification, The Consolidated Tea and Lands Company and Baraoora (Sylhet) Tea Company of James Finlay Ltd. (Former James Finlay PLC)
Finlays, a multinational corporation based in Glasgow, Scotland with offices across the world in London (UK), Kericho (Kenya), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Karachi (Pakistan), Singapore, Hong Kong and New York (USA)
Duties and Responsibilities:
• Managing Forests and Rubber Plantations (Plantation establishment to Product sale) of 16 tea estates
• Coordinator of Crop Diversification and Land Utilization Committee and Member of the Technical Committee: Technical advices and Quality assurances, Crop Estimate and Budgeting.
• Organizing technical training, workshops and seminars for the management staffs
• Managing Timber Extraction, Saw Millings and Timber Treatment Projects
• Involvement in all stages of the project lifecycle to date from the Business Case presentation through to post implementation and support
• Developing strong relationships with key figures across the organisation both business and technically focused from the Chief Executive Officer to Estate Managers
• Working with the British timber extraction and logging experts to develop and implement high-tech Sky lining timber extraction method from the Tea Estates without damaging Tea bushes.
Achievements:
1. Successful establishment of 550 Hectares Plantation Forests with indigenous plant species, 320 Hectares of Bamboo groves and 2071 Hectares Rubber Plantations.
2. Successful conservation of 200 Hectares natural forests and control of erosion control from rubber and tea plantations.
3. Establishments of Forestry and Timber nursery with 350,000 Nos saplings of indigenous plant species including Xylia dolabriformis, Dipterocarpus turbinatus, Artocarpus chaplasha, A. heteroplyllus, Gmelina arborea, Cidrella toona, Azadirechta indica, Melia azadarect, Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia belerica, T. chebula Chickrassia tebularis, Tectona grandis, Heterophragma alatus, Vitex sp.(Neor), Mesua ferrea, Aphanomixis sp. and Garcinia cowa etc.
4. Successful establishment of mechanical timber extraction by power saws and Sky lining (cable cranes) and earned BDT 300 million from Rural Electrification Board supplying treated timber for transmission line construction and inclusion of Albizzia odoratissima, A. procera, A. lebbek, Derris robusta and Cassia siamea etc. the in Technical Specification of Rural Electrification Board.
5. Production of high quality ‘Finlay Rubber’ (RSS) as per international standard RSS grades
6. Significant increase of rubber production from 110 tons to 844 tons during the period 1998 to 2007.
7. Formulation of tea population and standard spacing using geometrical formula on the basis of surface area, branch angle and central dominance.
8. Formulated optimum distances of shade trees using geometrical formula for both hilly and flat estate plantations according to sunlight, hight of the trees and undulation of the land.
9. Discovery of triple storey root behaviour, root antagonism and causes of failure of single plant infillings of Tea plants.
June 30, 1983 – October 03, 1994: Field Superintendent, Production Manager, Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation (BFIDC)
BFIDC is the country’s major mechanical timber extraction, lumber processing, wood preservation, furniture and cabinet manufacturing industries, headquartered in Dhaka, with its branch offices in Chittagong, Kaptai, Khulna and Srimangal. BFIDC has also 15,000 hectares of Rubber Plantations producing about 7,000 Tons of natural rubber which is more than 60% of the country’s total production.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Production and Quality Control of Wood Treatment Plants, BFIDC Chittagong and Lumber Processing and Saw Mills (LPC) Kaptai, Chittagong Hill Tracts
2. Head of the Quality Assurance Team for all Timber Products especially, transmission poles, cross arms, anchor logs and railway sleepers etc.
3. Headed an in-house technical training, workshops and seminars
4. Arrangement of technical training for visiting students of Forestry Institutes viz. University of Chittagong, Forestry College, Chittagong and Swedish Institute of Technology, Kaptai etc.
5. Treatability and longevity study and certification of Home grown Timbers.
6. Protection of timber from post harvest deterioration and to maximize recovery percentage with appropriate technology.
7. Performance study of in-service timber products (imported and home grown) especially, poles, cross arms and anchor logs treated with Creosote, Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and Chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a joint project with Timber Products Specialist of Rural Electrification Board of Bangladesh.
8. Liaised between Forest Research Institute, Forest Department, Rural Electrification Board and Bangladesh Railway for both business and technical areas, attended inter-departmental and inter-ministerial meetings to extend cooperation and to improve business activities and to ensure better utilization of forest produces.
Achievements:
1. Successfully produced and supplied 115,000 Nos. transmission poles, 235,000 cross arms and 500,000 anchor and stabilizer logs to Rural Electrification Board and 260,000 Nos. railway sleepers to the Bangladesh Railway against international and local tenders within the stipulated time.
2. Introduction and implementation of seasoning (Kiln) drying and treatment schedules for poles, cross arms, anchor logs, sleepers of native timber species e.g. Dipterocarpus spp, Palaquium sp. and Heritiera minor (Sundri) etc.
3. Processing of rubber wood extracted from old rubber plantations for furniture timber. Anti-stain preservatives and dip diffusion with boron preservative were formulated successfully for safe use of rubber wood for making high quality furniture.
4. While studying in the University of London (Imperial College), oil based patented wood preservative “Borester” a product of Manchem (U.K.) was evaluated and found not effective for which further investigation was done to make it an effective and safe Boron based wood preservative successfully.
February 15, 1982 – June 29, 1983: Timber Products Inspector, Rural Electrification Board (REB), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
REB is one of the noble organizations started electrification in the rural areas of Bangladesh in 1979 with the help of USAID. For quick and sustainable power transmission line construction and easy transportation in the remote areas, preservative treated wooden poles, cross arms; anchor and stabilizer logs are used. Considering timber as a regenerable natural resource and of its high strength properties, especially the impact load bearing capacity, wooden poles/materials were chosen for rural electrification. The USA initiated the program and other international funding organizations e.g. Kuwait (KFAED), Netherlands (NL), IDA, ADB, OPEC, OECD and Norway (NORAD) etc. participated simultaneously to accelerate the program. Although preservative treated coniferous soft wood poles were used for transmission line construction but REB considered home-grown preservative treated timber products from BFIDC. A separate Directorate with a well-equipped quality control laboratory under a Timber Products Specialist was set up by the REB to monitor and inspection of all timber products. Highly qualified Timber Products Inspectors were engaged to prepare international schedule (Specification for timber products) for procurement and for quality control inspection of both home-grown and imported timber products.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Quality control inspection of wooden poles, cross arms, braces, anchor and stabilizer logs and conductor reels etc.
2. Preparation of technical specification for inspection and quality control of timber products.
3. Destination inspection of imported timber products at REB Central Warehouse, Shiromoni, Khulna
4. Oversee production and quality control of timber products (pre-and post treatment inspection) in Wood Treatment Plants of BFIDC Chittagong, Khulna and Lumber Processing and Saw Mills (LPC) Kaptai, Chittagong Hill Tracts.
5. In-charge, Quality Control Laboratory, chemical analysis for checking retention of wood preservatives.
6. Treatability and longevity study and certification of Home grown Timbers.
Achievements:
1. Successfully established a quality control and wood testing laboratory.
2. An internationally accepted standard specification for timber products for rural electrification was developed.
3. Standard classes and grades were specified for hardwood poles, cross arms and anchor logs. Drying and treatment schedules for hardwood timbers were also developed.
4. About 125,000 Nos. hardwood and softwood poles, 250,000 Nos. Anchor logs and 150,000 cross arms (home-grown and imported) were inspected.
Educational Experience
1988 Master of Science and Post Graduate Diploma (DIC) in Timber Technology and Applied Biology
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London
1978 Master of Science in Botany
University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
1976 Bachelor of Science
University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Publications
1. Physiological and Biochemical Studies of Growth and Yield of Italian Millet (Setaria italica L. Beauv) following Potassium Nephthenate Treatment, M.Sc. Thesis, Univ. Dhaka, 1981.
2. Extending the Spectrum of Activity of Boron Wood Preservatives: M.Sc. Thesis, Univ. London, 1988
3. Mechanical Properties of Timber: Structural Timber Joints: Report 1988, Dept. Civil Engineering, Imperial College, London
4. Timber in the Building: The Pourbakun Vol. 2, No. 5, May 26, 1992
5. Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation of Bangladesh: The Pourbakun Vol. 2 No. 6, June 2, 1992.
6. The Role of Forest Industry in National Development; The Azadi No.11, 1992
7. Subsidiary Projects: Forestry, Timber Treatment and Rubber, Inter Country Plantation Meeting (ICPM), Balisera, Bangladesh Nov. 5-8, 1999.
8. Plantation Crops and Organic Farming: Research Articles Series 1: Some Environment Related Problems and Their Solutions: January 2004. ISBN 984-32-1154-5
• Earth’s Environment and Rational Approach
• Crop and Environment
• Model Rural Homestead Farming - A Real Example of Crop Diversification
• The role of Shade Trees in Improving the Environment of the Tea Crop
• Bush Architecture in Growth and Yield of Tea
• Some Aspects of Rubber Production in Bangladesh
• Opportunity for Black Pepper Plantation in Bangladesh
• ‘Garlic’ A Taste for Food and A Medicine for Sound Health
9. Plantation Crops and Organic Farming: Articles Series 2
Coconut, a Multipurpose Plantation Crop
ISBN 984-32-1843-4, January 2005
10. Plantation Crops and Organic Farming: Articles Series 3 The Principles of Organic Farming
ISBN 984-32-2101-0 February 2005
11. Abortone Biborton (Evolution in rotation):
ISBN: 984-32-1842-6, December 2004; Bengali Poems based on environmental problems, and unplanned development, old-age proverbs on agricultural practices, diversified cropping culture etc. are the main theme.
12. Study on some under-utilized indigenous spices of Bangladesh: Ecoagriculture Partners: Vol. 3, No. 1, 2006
13. Problems and their solutions of Rubber Production in Bangladesh; Seminar on Rubber a potential resource of Bangladesh Oct. 11, 2006, Organized by Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation, CIDRAP Auditorium Dhaka
14. Management of Tea Plantation and Associated Forest Crops for Sustainable Environmental Development in Bangladesh: Ph.D. Thesis (Accepted), Atlantic National University, California, USA, 2007.
Training
• UNDP/IAEA/RCA Regional Industrial Training-Demonstration on Radiation Curing of Surface Coatings of Wood Products, CAIR, BATAN, Jakarta, Indonesia 1985.
• Logging and Sky lining, Floriculture and Environment study at Kericho and Masai Mara, Kenya 1995
• Visited Plantation Corporation Kerala, Rubber Board and Rubber Research Institute, Kottyam, Kerala, India in 2003
Technologies
I am highly proficient in the following technologies:
• Forestry and Plantation Crops
• Nursery and Plantation management techniques
• Timber Engineering and Wood Protection
• Timber Inspection and Quality Control
• Multiple and indigenous cropping culture
• Organic Farming, Permaculture and Homestead Farming
• Environment and habitat research methodology
• Microsoft (MS) Project
• MS Sharepoint
• MS Office
Professional Affiliations
• Founder Chairman: Homestead Cropping and Ecoagriculture Research Center for
Sustainable Rural Development (HCERCSRD), Village: Gouripur, P.O.: Ditpur, Upajella: Ishwarganj, District: Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Website:www.hcercsrd.org
• Member of Ecoagriculture Partners
• Life Member of Bangladesh Tea Planters Association
• Member of Balisera Valley Club
References
• Dr. Saleemul Huq, Head, Climate Change Programme, International Institute for Environment and Development, 3 Endsleigh Street, London, WC 1H 0DD, U.K. E mail saleemul.huq@iied.org
• Dr. Arun Kumar Lahiry, Timber Products Specialist, Wood Testing & Research Lab. & Environment Monitoring Cell Rural Electrification Board, Nikunja -2, Khilkhet, Dhaka-1229, Bangladesh. Email: rebtps@citechco.net , arunlahiry@hotmail.com Cell Phone: 8801727626766
• Dr. Mainul Huq, Director, Bangladesh Tea Research Institute, Srimangal, Bangladesh E mail: directorbtri@yahoo.com Cell Phone: 8801711867485
• Dr. Asghari Bano, Associate Professor, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. E mail: asgharibano@yahoo.com
M.A. Rahman
August 15th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Date: 09-08-2008
To
The Head of Human Resources,
Yangone Footwear Ltd,
Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone, Chittagong
Business : Footwear Manufacturer
Sub: Application for the post of a honorable jobs for Footwear Industry
Sir,
With honor and due respect, I am Hriday Sikder ,a B.Sc in Footwear Technologist write to inform you that, I have come to learn that your renowned Footwear Company will be going to initiate few B.Sc in Footwear Technologist for Footwear Manufacturing.As a candidate I am very interested to work in your company. Now I am working in hundred percent export oriented footwear company as sewing in-charge,my Cell No:+88-01911569028, E-mail No: hriday.sikder@yahoo.com.
May, I therefore, pray and hope that you would be kind enough to grant my prayer
and oblige me there by.
Yours faithfully,
_________________
HRIDAY SIKDER.