"We'll have to be united on politics of development and production to make independence meaningful and safeguard democracy for gaining prosperity.. None should have differences on this to fulfil national aspirations," she said inaugurating Adamjee Export Processing Zone yesterday.

Terming social peace and stability the sine qua non for economic uplift and investment, she said frequent hartal and work stoppages damage the investment climate.

An investment-friendly atmosphere will have to be ensured through cooperation of all, shunning party politics, she said.

The prime minister said the government in the last four and a half years approved 180 new industrial units in the EPZs from where goods worth US$ 10.87 billion were exported until last December.

On the contrary, she said, the volume of exports from the EPZs until 2001 was worth US$ 4.82 billion. The investment in the EPZs until 2001 was US$ 475.20 million that rose to US$ 928.48 million in December 2005, she added.

The prime minister said some 55,000 new jobs were created in the last four and a half years.

In the first quarter of the current fiscal year, exports from EPZs stood at US$ 870.31 million, investment increased by US$ 61.47 million and more than 10,000 new jobs were created.

She urged local and foreign entrepreneurs to come up with bigger investments and technology for the Adamjee EPZ that she hoped would infuse a new dynamism to industrialisation in the region.

The prime minister said the government has received encouraging response from investors who showed interest in setting up industrial projects in Adamjee EPZ.

She expected some US$ 400 million in investment in 50 industrial units on the 200 plots and factory buildings at Adamjee, creating employment for nearly 100,000 people.

Describing the present era an era of competition, Khaleda said none will be able to survive for long by depending on others. "Today's slogan is `not aid but trade," she said, adding: "We have taken steps to restructure our economy to cope with the changed world order."

The prime minister said speedy industrialisation is essential for raising production and generating new employment.

Khaleda said her government has formulated liberal policies and is offering institutional support and infrastructure facilities to attract foreign investment.

Among others, Industries Minister Matiur Rahman Nizami, Commerce Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan, State Minister for Liberation Affairs Rezaul Karim, Giasuddin Ahmed MP and Executive Chairman of Bepza Zakir Hossain addressed the function.

Khaleda also formally inaugurated 'E-Governance Project' of Bepza (Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority) through a video-conference. She talked to general managers of Dhaka and Chittagong EPZs and two foreign investors of Chittagong EPZ through the conference.

In another function, the prime minister inaugurated the factory of M/S Hy Lan Sweater Industries Ltd and Kwun Tong Apparel Ltd at the EPZ. She also laid the foundation stone of Fashion City Industry.