Human Resource Management Practices and Firm Performance Improvement in Dhaka Export Processing Zone (Depz) (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Bangladesh, like many other developing economies, is attracting foreign direct investment to accelerate its economic growth in term employment creation and human capital development. The investment from foreign countries is seen as a strategy for combating poverty. The contribution of MNCs is particularly recognised in the increasing number of partnerships, in which expertise and knowledge, usually through best practices, are transferred (Kolk & Van Tulder 2006). To attract such foreign direct investment the country needs to make the facilities of the industrial zones attractive as well as 'building up' the skilled and productive labour force to supply to the industrial sector. Needless to say, as the competition in the global market becomes more fierce, firms in Bangladesh are faced with greater challenges in maintaining their competitiveness. In recent years, manufacturing as well as other business sectors have started giving priorities for firm performance improvement, and consequently, the importance for managing human resources effectively to enhance their overall performance for their competitiveness, has attracted attention. The question is whether and to what extent human resources management practices in firms in developing countries such as those located in Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) in Bangladesh can influence firm performance.