"We will be able to open the Adamjee EPZ within a month as three companies are expected to go into production shortly," Mohammad Zakir Hossain, executive chairman of Bepza, told a press briefing.

There will be 200 plots in the EPZ but Bepza has already received applications for 326 plots, he said, adding that it is not possible to accommodate all.

Bepza is developing 100 plots in the first phase and 65 of them have already been allotted. Another 100 plots will be developed in the second phase, he mentioned.

Adamjee EPZ will generate around one lakh employment after completion, Hossain hoped.

Commerce ministry organised the conference to brief the media about the outcome of the single country fair ended in Colombo on January 23. Commerce Minister Altaf Hossain Choudhury, secretary Abdul Karim, vice-chairman of Export Promotion Bureau Mir Shahabuddin Mohammad and other senior officials of the commerce ministry were present at the briefing.

Speaking at the briefing, the commerce minister said a proposal to form Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Business Promotion Council was made during the fair.

Sri Lanka will also organise a similar fair in Bangladesh, he said hoping trade between the two Saarc countries will see a tremendous boost shortly.

EPB vice-chairman said 31 pharmaceutical products are in the process of getting registration in Sri Lanka.

"Sri Lanka imports medicines worth about $300 million and Bangladesh will be able to increase medicine export to Lanka after completion of registration," he added.

Of the 44 companies participated in the fair, 30 got spot orders, he said.