Friday, April 19, 2019

Economic Zones in Bangladesh are Ready for Investment


The economy of Bangladesh is growing rapidly from the past ten years. The government has set a target of export US$ 400 billion of goods by establishing 100 economic zones by 2030 across the country to accelerate and sustain the economic development. Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) is working to achieve this goal. Already 10 to 14 economic zones are being prepared for investment.

Till now, ten economic zones have been completed and are ready for investment, see the below list:
  • Abdul Monem Economic Zone Gazaria, Munshiganj
  • Aman Economic Zone
  • Bay Economic Zone in Gazipur
  • City Economic Zone
  • Karnaphuli Dry Dock Economic Zone in Chattogram
  • Kishoreganj economic zone
  • Meghna Economic Zone in Narayanganj
  • Meghna Industrial Economy Zone
  • Mongla Economic Zone in Bagerhat
  • Sreehatta Economic Zone in Moulvibazar

BEZA Executive Chairman said, "Not only 10, but 14 economic zones are now ready for investment." He also said that most of the 10 economic zones mentioned in the update report are in private sector. Apart from these, few industries in the Mongla and in Mirsarai EZ are being built. Moulvibazar and Feni EZ are ready to invest. Overall, fourteen economic zones are ready for investment. BEZA is currently working to prepare 28 economic zones across the country.

Abdul Monem Economic Zone Gazaria, Munshiganj:
Abdul Monem Economic Zone (AMEZ), an economic zone of the private sector, has been built on 142 acres of land in Gazaria, Munshiganj (East side of Daudkandi Meghna-Gomti Bridge). In January 2017 the zone has obtained the final license and investing 10 Crore 20 Lac 30 Thousand US dollars. Honda Japan has already started Motorcycles manufacturing through investment in Abdul Monem Economic Zone. This project is moving forward in a beautiful environment with the assistance of the BEZA. There is electricity, well communication system, gas will connect soon. If the gas-power service is confirmed, investment in this zone will increase further.

Aman Economic Zone in Sonargaon:
Aman Economic Zone has been established on 83 acres of land in Boiddar Bazar area of ​​Sonargaon upazila under Narayanganj. So far 32 Crore 64 lac US$ have been invested in this zone including development costs. The factories type located here includes cement factories, packaging and ship building yard. Now implementation of food processing projects along with cement, packaging and ship building is in progress. If the gas is available then many more investment projects will be started.

Bay Economic Zone in Gazipur:
Bay Economy Zone Limited is a subsidiary of the famous Bay Group in the country. Total land area of this zone is 65 acres and located in Gazipur Sadar Upazila beside the Gazipur-Chandra highway. It got the final license on April 2017. In addition to development costs, total amount of investment in this zone is 8 crore 88 lac and 60 thousand US$. Toy manufacturing factory Meigo (Bangladesh) Limited is China's direct investment in this economic zone. Products produced in this factory are now being exporting.

City Economic Zone in Rupganj:
City Economic Zone Limited, a subsidiary of City Group. It is located on 81.88 acres of land beside the Shitalakkhya River in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj which is just two kilometers away from Dhaka-Sylhet Highway. So far the investment in this economic zone has reach 67 crore 50 thousand US$.

Karnaphuli Dry Dock Economic Zone in Chattogram:
Karnafuli Dry Dock Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Limited, the first specialized economic zone in the country to build and maintain ships. It obtains the final license in February 2019. In Anowara, Chattogram this zone is being built. This Dry Dock Economic Zone will have one lac capacity deadweight tonnage (DWT) power. The project is expected to attract huge foreign investment, including the development of sea-going ship repairs and construction industries. If it is implemented, it will be possible to earn foreign currency of $ 120 million a year.

Kishoreganj Economic Zone:
BEZA authority awarded the license to Kishoreganj Economic Zone Ltd (KEZ), a concern of Nitol Niloy Group on February, 2019. KEZ received approval as the ninth private economic zone in the country. Total land area for this zone will be 91.63 acres, located in Pakundia upazila near the Bhairab - Kishoreganj Highway. The KEZ is expected to create job opportunity for 15,000 people within the first five years of operation. The Nitol Niloy Group will set up heavy automobile industry in this zone. Besides, a steel manufacturing plant is likely to set up by an Indian group.

Meghna Economic Zone in Narayanganj:
Meghna Economic Zone has grown in 68 acres of land near Meghna ghat of Sonargaon upazila of Narayanganj. Although it was proposed to be in total 245 acres of land. So far the investment in this economic zone has been 93 crore 76 lac 10 thousand US$. At present, there are 10 approved industrial units including paper and pulp industries, chemical plants, pulse and flour mill.

Meghna Industrial Economic Zone:
The Meghna Industrial Economy Zone is another zone established by the Meghna Group in Sonargaon of Narayanganj district. Total land area for this zone is about 76 acres and already 29 Crore 90 lac US$ has been invested. There will be employment opportunity for 7,000 people in this zone. In the meantime, production of beverage, steel, cement, paper bags etc has been started here.

Mongla Economic Zone in Bagerhat:
Mongla Economic Zone has been established on 205 acres of land near Mongla seaport and Mongla EPZ in Mongla upazila under Bagerhat district. Power Pack Economic Zone Private Limited, a subsidiary of Sikder Group, is responsible for the development and management of this zone. BEZA has already completed the construction of roads, bridges, water supply lines, power sub-stations and administrative buildings which costs at least BDT 50 crore. Development work of some link roads inside the zone has been started.

Sreehatta Economic Zone in Moulvibazar:
Another economic zone prepared for investment is the Shreehatta Economic Zone with a total 352 acres of land in Sherpur, Moulvibazar Sadar upazila. Sylhet is located on the east of the zone, Habiganj is on the west, Sunamganj is on the north and Moulvibazar district on the south. In this economic zone, six industrial establishments have been allotted 231 acres of land. They have planned to invest around US$ 1.4 billion in this zone.

Even though some zones are ready for investment but physical infrastructure development in some areas has not yet been fully established. However, electricity connections were found and it should remain uninterrupted. Gas availability must be confirmed in the zones. Some old industrial areas have been converted to economic zones.

The economic zones which are in fact ready for investment, where all facilities like gas, electricity, infrastructure, communication etc must be ensure with priorities. If these economic zones can be fully activated, it will be possible to attract more investment which will help to achieve the goals of Bangladesh.


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