Availing an environment clearance certificate from now will take just a third of the time previously required, thanks to the One-Stop Service (OSS) portal of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida).

Previously, it took investors some 150 days to get the nod from the Department of Environment.

Now, it will be available anywhere between a week and 45 working days for new or running industries based on the trade category and submission of required documents.

Applicants will be able to make payments online and witness in real time the application's progress with the service provider and get feedback on any official unmet requirement.

The certificate will be issued as soon as the service provider gives its approval.

This certificate issuance is one of the 14 new services, including 12 of the environment department, now available at the OSS. The other two are of Bida and the Office of the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms.

"The ministry [for environment, forest and climate change] is providing services to the investors to improve the business environment and create employment opportunity along with increasing investment," said Environment Minister Md Shahab Uddin yesterday.

"There is no pending application of investors at economic zones and approval is being given without any hassle and in a timely manner," he said while addressing the virtual launching of the 14 services by Bida Executive Chairman Md Sirazul Islam.

Applications through OSS are being received and given approval, he said.

Previously, 21 information-related services were available, including 14 of Bida and one each of the registrar, the National Board of Revenue and Sonali Bank.

The new inclusions enable verification of national identity cards via the Election Commission Secretariat and issuance of both land use clearance certificates from Chattogram Development Authority and of security clearance from the Public Security Division for foreign nationals.

Bida's goal is to integrate as many as 154 services from 35 agencies, all to facilitate investment in the country.

Ziaul Hassan, secretary to the environment ministry, urged investors to contact him when faced with any unexpected hassle.

Bida is working to ensure an investment-friendly environment and to improve the country's ease of doing business status, said Islam.

He said the private sector was contributing towards the development of the country's economy.

This called for the need to improve the ease of doing business and create a business-friendly environment, he said.

"We need to work with the private sector to improve the overall ease of doing business and increase business significantly," he noted.

He urged investors to collect all necessary documents before applying for the certificate so that the service could be seamlessly provided.

Implementation is more important than the signing of memorandums of understanding to provide services, he noted.

Islam expects to sign more agreement with city corporations of Dhaka and Chattogram soon.

Commerce Secretary Md Jafar Uddin said these services would help upgrade Bangladesh's score in the World Bank's ease of doing business index.