The official foundation stone of the country’s largest
foreign investment-based industrial project ‘Chinese Economic and Industrial
Zone’ (CEIZ) will be laid in Anwara, Chattogram on Monday (July 27). The
project, a joint initiative of Bangladesh and China, is expected to open new
prospects for the country’s industry and economy, including Chattogram.
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury
will be present as the chief guest at the colorful event. Home Minister
Salahuddin Ahmed will be present as the special guest.
President of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC),
Member of Parliament for Chattogram-13 (Anwara-Karnaphuli) constituency Sarwar
Jamal Nizam, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh
Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), senior government officials and people related
to domestic and foreign investment will also be present at the event.
The CEIZ is being built on about 783 acres of land on the
eastern bank of the Karnaphuli River. The important phases of the foundation
stone laying ceremony will include the signing of a historic sub-lease
agreement, unveiling of the official slogan of the CEIZ, inauguration of the
one-stop service and tree plantation program.
Recently, the Executive Committee of the National Economic
Council (ECNEC) approved the supporting infrastructure development project of
the CEIZ. A total of Tk 4,189 crore has been estimated to be spent on the
implementation of the project between January 2027 and 2031 by the Bangladesh
Economic Zones Authority (BEZA).
Of this, the government’s own financing is Tk 1,722 crore.
In addition, Tk 2,467 crore will be financed as a loan under the Preferential
Buyers’ Credit (PBC) facility of the Export-Import Bank of China.
Various important infrastructures including internal
roads, power substations, water storage tanks, gas transmission facilities, and
liquid waste treatment plants will be constructed under the project.
The CEIZ is developing in a very important geographical
position due to its proximity to the Chattogram Port and Shah Amanat
International Airport. Those concerned hope that at least 500 million US
dollars of foreign direct investment (FDI) will be attracted to Anwara if the
project is launched.
Not only investment, this project will create massive
employment opportunities in the greater Chattogram region. It is expected that
at least more than one lakh people will be directly and indirectly employed
through the CEIZ.
Those concerned say that if the Chinese Economic and
Industrial Zone is implemented, Chattogram will become stronger as a modern
industrial, trade and logistics hub. In addition, this project will play an
important role in deepening and multi-dimensionalizing Bangladesh-China
economic relations.
