Online Desk  :  Sky Bees Limited, a newly established Bangladeshi company, is set to invest US$ 45.95 million to set up an export-oriented unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, commonly known as drone) manufacturing industry in the BEPZA Economic Zone (BEPZA EZ) in Mirsharai, Chattogram. The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) signed an agreement with Sky Bees Limited at the BEPZA Complex in Dhaka on Thursday in this regard, says a press release.

This will be the first factory to manufacture drones for various commercial and service purposes in the economic zones under BEPZA, creating employment opportunities for 55 Bangladeshi nationals. Member (Investment Promotion) of BEPZA Md Ashraful Kabir and Managing Director of Sky Bees Limited Josim Uddin Ahmed signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations. BEPZA Executive Chairman Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman witnessed the signing ceremony.

Sky Bees will produce annually 7,314 pieces of 10 different models of UAVs for agricultural pesticide spray, firefighting, emergency rescue, delivery of products and services, cinematography and mapping. During the lease signing ceremony, Executive Chairman Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman appreciated the decision of Sky Bees Limited to invest in BEPZA EZ for producing high-tech and diverse products, such as drones.

He said the authority always encourages investment in diversified products within its EPZs and BEPZA EZ. The Executive Chairman said this is the country’s first investment in UAV production and is expected to play a crucial role in expanding Bangladesh’s export basket. Member (Engineering) Mohammad Faruque Alam, Member (Finance) A N M Foyzul Haque, Executive Director (Admin) ASM Zamshed Khondaker, Executive Director (Investment Promotion) Md Tanvir Hossain along with Chairman of Sky Bees Limited Md. Mashud Razzaq were present during the signing ceremony.