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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