The centres are industrial exportation zones offering services and a modern infrastructure to companies investing in manufacturing, commerce and services. There will be access to customs and other benefits until December 31, 2012, including: income tax, general sales tax, municipal promotion tax, additional municipal promotion tax, selective consumer tax, FONAVI (solidarity tax), national or municipal taxes, rates, fees or contributions.

These benefits are available to companies that install their businesses at the centres before December 31, 2004, and observe the following requirements:

• Export at least 92% of their total production.
• Develop products whose customs entries do not exceed $15m dollars in 1996.
• Develop manufacturing and production activities of merchandise not considered in the CIIU (revision 2).

Customs benefits include:

• Fees and taxes applied to machinery and equipment are waived if those goods are installed in the centres.
• The storage of industrial and finished goods for an unlimited time.

The centres offer advantages to companies dedicated to the agro-industrial, metal-mechanical and lumber industries, including production, assembly, reconditioning, storage and services (packing, labelling, classification, etc).

Further information from promocion@conafran.gob.pe

Bangladesh: The Bangladesh government has formed a high-powered committee to hammer out ways for deferment of the January 1, 2004, deadline set two years ago for allowing trade unions in their EPZs.

The nine-member committee will hold talks with the officials of the US Embassy in Dhaka, American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisation (AFL-CIO) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on trade unions. This follows the passing of the EPZ Trade Union and Industrial Relations Bill, 2004, which provides for the formation of fully fledged trade unions in the EPZs from November 1, 2006.

Headed by state minister for labour and employment Aman Ullah Aman, the committee comprises secretaries of the ministries of foreign affairs, labour and employment, industries, commerce, law, justice and parliamentary affairs. Executive chairman of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) Brigadier General (rtd) Mofizur Rahman, BEPZA member Nazrul Islam and a representative from the prime minister’s office are included in the body.

On January 31, 2001, the Awami League government decided to lift the embargo on labour unions in the EPZs amid pressure from the US government and the AFL-CIO. Later, the labour and employment ministry declared through a gazette notification that labour rights would be established in the EPZs from January 1, 2004.

Currently, six EPZs in Dhaka, Chittagong, Comilla, Ishwardi, Mongla and Nilphamari have $550.73m in investment from 23 countries. Goods worth $1.2bn were exported from the EPZs in fiscal 2002, which was 18% of the country’s total exports during the period.

The zones employ 123,927 workers, 31% of them women.