Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday offered Singapore a 500-acre of land initially in a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of Bangladesh to set up their businesses, especially agro- and food-processing industries.

“Initially, we’ll give you a 500-acre land in a Special Economic Zone,” the Prime Minister said when a delegation of Singapore businessmen, led by Singapore Business Federation, SS Teo met her at her Sangsad Bhaban office.

PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

He said the Prime Minister put emphasis on setting up agro-based and food-processing industries along with poultry and dairy ones.

About the demand for allocating 2,500 acres of land by Singaporean businessmen, she said the government will initially allocate 500 acres of land and that will be increased later.

The Prime Minister said the businessmen of Singapore will be benefited from their industries here as Bangladesh is a bridge between the East and West Asia.

The Singaporean businessmen delegation is in Bangladesh as the Prime Minister during her recent visit to Singapore invited them to come to Bangladesh and explore the potentials for their future business.

The delegation members said they had talks with officials of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority. “We had good responses from them,” said SS Teo.

He said Bangladesh economy is growing very well as the Prime Minister is a very hard-working person.