The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) has so far received investment proposals worth over US$ 20 billion from over 127 local and foreign business bodies for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar (BSMSN).
Beyond these investment proposals, many world-renowned foreign companies are coming with big investment offers for the BSMSN, the country's largest industrial enclave, said BEZA executive chairman Paban Chowdhury.
Completely foreign and joint venture investment proposals with BEZA are gradually increasing, said Chowdhury who attributed the rise in investment proposals to the government's investment-friendly policy and measures.
He said globally reputed companies such as Berger Paints of the UK, Ramky Enviro Services Private Limited of India and HA Tech Limited of Australia signed investment proposals with BEZA, which looks after the country's state-run special economic zones (SEZs).
"It is a very positive sign for the country's economy that such big companies having billions of dollars annual turnovers are coming to invest in BSMSN . . . we are hopeful that BSMSN would change the country's economic scenario in future," said the BEZA chief.
About the impact of Covid-19 on investment, he said BEZA got investment proposals worth around $3.150 billion during the Covid-19 pandemic although the deadly virus has affected the global economy, bringing investment and job creation to an alarming level across the globe.
Of the $3.150 billion, Paban Chowdhury said $0.545 billion will come as foreign direct investment (FDI) from China, India, Australia and the UK.
As the government has planned to build the BSMSN as a state of the art and international standard greener economic zone, BEZA has taken up the “Development of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar” project with an overall estimated cost of Taka 4,347.21 crore.
Under this project, infrastructure will be developed in various zones including Zone 2A and Zone 2B of BSMSN for creating private investment-friendly environment there, Paban Chowdhury added.
BSMSN is being developed on a contiguous land of 30000 acres of three upazilas- Mirsarai, Sitakundu and Sonagazi-which is located on the mouth of Feni river, covering 25 kms of coastline of Sandeep channel of the Bay of Bengal, according to BEZA.
"We are building BSMSN as a truly world-class business and industrial center and a self-contained Industrial City which will have Sea Port, Rail Connectivity, Marine Drive, Residential Area, Tourism Park, Power Plant, Hospital, School and University," said Paban Chowdhury.
Once completed, the BSMSN will ensure employment for 1.5 million people within the next 15 years, he added.
According to BEZA, BEPZA has already been given 1150 acres of land in Mirsarai for setting up local and foreign industries.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has been given 500 acres of land in Mirsarai for setting up a well-planned ready-made garment factory park
The country’s leading industrial conglomerate Bashundhara Group has already got 500 acres of land in Mirsarai and Feni part of the BSMSN to set up 'Bashundhara Industrial Park' where it will invest US$ 500 million to set up industries.
Ananta Group has got 250 acres of land for 50 years and the company will invest about Tk 3,500 crore, and expected to generate employment for 25,000 people.
Kunming Iron & Steel Holding Company Limited, a state-owned Chinese company is going to invest an outstanding amount of Tk 2.13 billion in Bangladesh for establishing Iron and Steel Industries Park.
As per the instruction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, BEZA has taken steps to ensure maintenance of existing water bodies and create new water reservoirs and lakes in the Mirsarai economic zone. Three lakes, each having sizes of approximately 100 acres of land, are going to be developed in this zone and the first one is in the implementation stage. The lakes have been named after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as "Sheikh Hasina Sarobar' which will promote tourist attractions ensuring environmental protection for the whole of the BSMSN.
