Construction begins on Chinese economic zone
Construction of the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) in Chattogram’s Anwara officially began on Monday, marking a significant step to attract foreign investment.
The Zone is expected to expand export-oriented industries and create large-scale employment through closer economic cooperation with China.
Officials said that the 800-acre Government-to-Government initiative is expected to attract around US$1.3 billion in investment and generate more than 100,000 direct and indirect jobs, reinforcing Bangladesh’s ambition to transform Chattogram into a modern industrial and logistics hub.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury as the Chief Guest and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed as Special Guest.
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, senior government officials, business leaders and around 70 Chinese investors also joined the event.
Addressing the ceremony, Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury described investment as the key driver of Bangladesh’s future economic growth.
“All of us are working towards one thing. That is investment. It is the only thing that is going to drive the development.
It is the only thing that is going to create employment. And it is the only thing that is going to lead to the trillion dollar economy in 2034,” he said.
He said the progress of the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone represented an important building block in achieving the government’s long-term economic ambitions.
Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen said the launch of construction was an important outcome of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to China earlier this year.
“Today’s groundbreaking ceremony for the China Economic and Industrial Zone in Chattogram is an important step in implementing the outcomes of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to China,” he said.
The ambassador added that China was ready to deepen strategic coordination with Bangladesh, expand practical cooperation and translate the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries into tangible development benefits.
Highlighting growing investor confidence, Ashik Chowdhury said more than 30 Chinese companies had already committed around US$500 million in investments following the Prime Minister’s visit to Beijing and Dalian in June.
He also announced plans to significantly improve the country’s investment climate by reducing the time required to establish businesses.
“Within the next three months, we will roll out a process within which you will be able to get it done within 14 days,” he said, referring to obtaining licences and establishing factories, compared with the existing process that often takes between six months and a year.
China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), which is developing the project, said it aimed to make CEIZ a flagship platform for bilateral industrial cooperation and a leading destination for international investment.
CRBC Vice President Li Changgui said the company would work closely with all stakeholders to develop the zone into “a key platform for bilateral industrial cooperation, a major destination for international investment, and a model zone of mutual benefit.”
Several sub-lease agreements were signed during the event, while the CEIZ One Stop Service Centre was inaugurated to facilitate investor services.
The formal commencement of construction was marked by a ceremonial tree plantation.
The economic zone traces its origins to a memorandum of understanding signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Bangladesh in 2016.
On 17 June 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the Development Agreement and Land Lease Agreement with Bangladesh CEIZ Company Limited, established to implement the project.
The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) will hold a 30 per cent stake in the company, while China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) will hold 70 per cent.
As BEZA’s equity contribution, the 50-year lease value of the acquired land has been incorporated as equity, while the developer will contribute its share in cash.
The capital will be used for internal development, infrastructure construction and operation of the zone.
To ensure a world-class industrial environment at CEIZ, the Supporting Infrastructure Project for Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on 16 June 2026.
With an estimated cost of approximately Tk 41.89 billion, the project will include a 1,235-metre jetty link road, a 1,181-metre four-lane road, a multipurpose jetty with a capacity of 20,000 deadweight tonnes, a 25 MLD Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), a gas transmission line and District Regulating Station (DRS) with a capacity of 4.24 MMCFD, a water reservoir with a storage capacity of 20,304 cubic metres, a solid waste collection station with a capacity of 60 tonnes per day, approximately 12 kilometres of boundary wall, and two 33/11 kV substations.
According to the Development Project Proposal (DPP), the total project cost is approximately Tk 41.89 billion.
Of this, around Tk 24.67 billion is expected to be financed through foreign loan assistance and approximately Tk 17.22 billion through Government of Bangladesh funding.
The foreign financing component is proposed to be secured under the Preferential Buyer’s Credit (PBC) facility of the Export-Import Bank of China.
The infrastructure project is scheduled for implementation between January 2027 and December 2031.
Located near the Karnaphuli Tunnel, Chattogram Port and Shah Amanat International Airport, the zone is expected to strengthen country’s position as a regional manufacturing and logistics destination while expanding trade opportunities and attracting sustained Chinese investment.
