Evaluating the Role of Industry in Economic Development in Advancing SDG 9: A Study on Cumilla Export Processing Zones (EPZs), Bangladesh

A vital precondition for every nation’s progress is achieving the Sustainable development Goals (SDG). This research examined the role that Bangladesh’s EPZ plays in the economy of the nation in terms of investment, employment, and exports. It also assesses how industries in these zones contribute to sustainable industrialization, innovation, and infrastructure development, and explores the challenges and opportunities associated with their growth. Using a survey-based approach, the study gathers insights from industry stakeholders, including business owners, workers, and policy experts, to understand their perspectives on key factors such as investment, poverty alleviation, reliance on foreign and local investments, public-private partnerships, women empowerment, product quality, and the creation of new industries. It asserts that developing nations may capitalize on the opportunity afforded by EPZs to acquire advanced technology, upgrade labor and management skills, and gain access to global markets. The study then investigates to determine the present scenario of industrial growth in Bangladesh. It also investigates how the challenges of industrialization in Bangladesh are eliminated. This study also attempted to analyze the role of EPZ in the national economy, product branding, export incentives, infrastructures, investments, and possibilities, of EPZs in Bangladesh.