Bangladesh launches long-delayed Chinese industrial zone
Nearly a decade after signing agreement with Beijing, Dhaka begins work on flagship industrial zone aimed at attracting foreign investment, creating jobs and expanding export capacity
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh is set to begin infrastructure development for a long-delayed Chinese-backed industrial zone that officials hope will accelerate manufacturing, attract hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign investment and strengthen the country’s position as a regional export hub.
The launch marks a major step in a project first agreed upon by Bangladesh and China in 2016 but delayed for years by administrative hurdles.
According to bdnews24.com, the government will formally inaugurate construction of the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) in Anwara, near the country’s busiest seaport, on Monday.
The industrial zone is expected to become one of Bangladesh’s most strategically located manufacturing hubs.
Situated on the southern bank of the Karnaphuli River and connected to Chattogram Port through the Karnaphuli Tunnel, the country’s first underwater road tunnel, the project is designed to improve logistics for export-oriented industries while supporting Bangladesh’s efforts to diversify its economy beyond its dominant garment sector.
The project was approved in June by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to China, reviving a plan that had remained largely dormant since Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Dhaka nearly a decade ago.
Bangladesh has allocated about 317 hectares for the industrial zone at an estimated cost of 41.89 billion Bangladeshi taka ($338 million).
The government will finance roughly 17.22 billion Bangladeshi taka ($139 million), while China will provide loans worth 24.67 billion Bangladeshi taka ($200 million). Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2031.
The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) said the project will include roads, a multipurpose jetty, electricity and gas connections, water supply facilities, waste management systems and a central effluent treatment plant to support large-scale industrial operations.
Authorities estimate the zone will generate more than 100,000 direct and indirect jobs while attracting at least $500 million in foreign investment once operational.
Business leaders have welcomed the project but cautioned that modern infrastructure alone will not be enough to attract manufacturers.
They have urged the government to ensure reliable electricity and gas supplies, reduce bureaucratic hurdles and simplify investment procedures to compete with other manufacturing destinations in Asia.
China has become one of Bangladesh’s largest sources of infrastructure financing over the past decade, funding projects ranging from bridges and highways to power plants and ports.
The new industrial zone is expected to deepen those economic ties while helping Bangladesh expand its industrial base, increase exports and position itself as a more competitive manufacturing destination as it prepares for graduation from the United Nations’ least-developed-country status.
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