Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority
(BEZA)
 Prime Minister's Office

Government to Government Economic Zone

G2G EZs are being established upon initiative by the governments of a foreign country and the Government of Bangladesh. Several requests bave been received from various Asian countries like Japan, China and India to develop G2G EZs. Till now India has signed an MoU to invest 2 EZs (One in Kustia and another in Mongla), Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Anwara of Chattagrom and One for Japanese Economic Zone near Dhaka City in Arihajar Upazila of Naryanganj District.

Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ)

Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone will be the first specialized G2G economic zone, with an existing area of 781 acres. It has the potential to meet all the necessary conditions to become a successful Economic Zone. Once the economic zone is established, it is expected that there will be a huge demand for industrial plots, from potential investors.

The Zone has access to water transportation. The site is suitable for export oriented industries due to proximity of largest sea port of Bangladesh . It is expected to create employment for 2,00,000 persons.

  • Location : Anowara Upazila, Chittagong Division
  • Land area (acre) : 781
  • Road Connectivity : N1 is located at a distance of 10 km from the CIEZ. Proposed EZ is connected to N1 through Chittagong – Anowara- Banshkhali highway .
  • Multilane Tunnel is proposed under the River Karnaphuli. the multilane road tunnel shall reduce the travel time and distance from Chittagong to the CIEZ
  • The CIEZ is located at a distance of 15 km from the Chittagong town.
  • Chittagong railway station is located at a distance of 17 km from the CIEZ.
  • The Port of Chittagong is the principal Port of Bangladesh. CIEZ is located at a distance of 18 km from Chittagong Port.
  • CIEZ is located at a distance of 20 km from Shah Amanat International Airport, Chittagong.
  • Industries to be set up
  •  Chemical , Automobile assembly , garments , pharmaceutical  etc.

Japanese Economic Zone (Araihajar EZ)

Since the visits of both the Honourable Prime Ministers to each country of Japan and Bangladesh in 2014,
increasing number of Japanese investors is interested in doing business in Bangladesh. As of 2016, approximately 240 Japanese enterprises are doing business in Bangladesh. This is more than three times compared with 10 years ago. Now, Japanese business community has started to pay attention to Bangladesh as the next destination of investment. Following this trend, Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed the Loan Agreement of Foreign Direct Investment Promotion Project (FDIPP), and GoB decided to establish Japanese Economic Zones (EZ) as a joint venture project based on the G2G provisions of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Act 2010 in cooperation with JICA in the suburb of the capital city, Dhaka. BEZA have already been  selected developer to Sumitomo Corporation as a developer for this zone.

Total Land : 1st Phase 491 acres d and 2nd Phase another 500 acre, total around 1000 cares

Location: Arihajar, Narayanjanj

Current Development: 

  • BEZA has started the process of acquiring land for building a special economic zone dedicated to Japanese investors
  • Feasibility Study has completed
  • Environmental Impact Assessment has completed

Proposed Employment

  • Around 1,00,000 people

Industries to be set up

  • Agro-food, light engineering,  Chemical , Automobile assembly , garments , pharmaceutical  etc.

 

Indian G2G:

 Indian Economic Zone (Kustia) 

Located in Bheramara Upazila, Kushtia EZ has a total area of 477 acres. The proposed area is situated within 1 km of Hardinge Rail Bridge and Lalonshah Road Bridge.  The Proposed EZ is well connected through river, road, railway and air. It is also near the Irshordi EPZ situated on the opposite side of the Padma River. The existing India-Bangladesh 500 MW electricity line is within 2 kms,  water source from Padma river is only 1 Km away and gas line is within a 5 km radius. BEZA signed an MoU with India to establish Kushtia Economic Zones for the Indian investors. Mr. Paban Chowdhury, Executive Chairman, BEZA has signed the MoU on behalf of Bangladesh and Foreign Secretary Jaishankar signed on behalf of India.

Current Development: 

  • BEZA has started the process of land acquisition
  • Feasibility Study has completed
  • Environmental Impact Assessment has completed

Proposed Employment

  • Around 50,000 people

Industries to be set up

  • Agro-food, light engineering,  Chemical , Automobile assembly , garments , pharmaceutical  etc.

Indian Economic Zone (Mongla)

The proposed site for Mongla economic zone shares close proximity (within 200 meters) with Mongla port, providing strategic advantage in terms of accessibility to various international markets for trade.

The major export commodity handled in Mongla port includes jute, jute products, frozen food/shrimps, clay tiles, betel nuts, the majority of which will be handled in containers. Frozen goods export have increased since 2002 and is estimated that majority of the entire shrimp export has been conducted through Mongla, about 70% of which is to Europe and the rest to the US. Furthermore, a number of commodities such as coal, garments, leather, machineries etc. are expected to be handled by the port in the upcoming years on account of thrust and high traffic at Chittagong port. The import of Clinker, one of the major components generally imported through Mongla Port for the local cement plants, has increased in the last few years due to regional infrastructural development projects. Food grains, LPG, fertilizer, gas, machineries and motor vehicles are other major commodities handled at Mongla Port, together accounting for ~90% of total imports. The potential of Mongla port has not yet been utilized, the way that the Chittagong port has. The Government of Bangladesh is actively considering revitalizing the port to make it  a national port with capacity/activity comparable to Chittagong port.

Mongla also enjoys the advantage of being on the banks of an inland river, especially since inland water transport is a major mode of transportation in the country. The Government plans to construct the Padma Bridge as part of the Bangladesh Southwest Road Network Development Project. Following the opening of the new bridge, the  road distance between Dhaka and Mongla will be reduced to 189 km, 74 km less than the present distance of 264 km between Dhaka and Chittagong – and much less congested. The bridge is expected to revive the Mongla port, which is now operating at very low capacity due to the long travel time required to reach Dhaka and other key locations.

 In order to exploit the above opportunities and advantages the Indian Government has expressed interest in developing an Economic Zone near Mongla Port to host investment exclusively from India.