After more than a decade of delays and bureaucratic hurdles, Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) in Anwara, Chattogram, is moving into its implementation stage with an official groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for Monday.
More than 30 Chinese companies have already formalised commitments to invest approximately $500 million into the government-to-government (G2G) industrial zone, which spans roughly 800 acres of land.
Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury is set to inaugurate the project as the chief guest.
He will be joined by special guests including Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Executive Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury.
The project is anticipated to become one of the premier destinations for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh, potentially generating over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs and establishing Chattogram as a central industrial and logistics hub in South Asia.
Situated on the southern bank of Karnaphuli River, the zone aims to attract manufacturing across sectors such as garments, electronics, engineering, plastics, and leather goods.
Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Mohammad Amirul Haque hailed the project as a historic milestone, saying its proximity to the seaport and airport provides significant strategic value.
He added that nearly two-thirds of the anticipated investment is expected from China, praising the efficiency of Chinese investors in setting up manufacturing operations.
Alihussain Akberali, chairman of BSRM told TIMES of Bangladesh, “This is a very good news for our country. It will create employment and will add to the country’s growth. Let’s hope they get all support from government.”
The journey to this milestone began in 2014 with signing of the first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bangladesh and China. Although land acquisition was finalised in 2016, progress was stalled for years by administrative issues and delays in appointing a developer.
While China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) was initially considered, the Chinese government eventually nominated China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) for the role in 2022.
The project received renewed momentum following Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to China, after which BEZA and CRBC signed a formal developer agreement on 25 June.
According to BEZA, the zone is scheduled for full completion by December 2031, though authorities expect 60 per cent of industrial plots to be ready for factory construction within the first three years.
Business leaders view the project as timely, as rising costs in China prompt manufacturers to seek alternative production bases.
Former Chittagong chamber director Mahfuzul Haque Shah suggested that Bangladesh should capitalise on this trend by promoting sectors like semiconductors and electronics, though he said success depends on addressing structural challenges and the effective implementation of the government’s recent initiative to unify investment promotion agencies under BIDA.
Sakeef Ahmed Salam, a director at BGMEA and deputy managing director of Asian Group, said for Chattogram to truly become a regional logistics hub, the government must ensure an uninterrupted energy supply, enhanced port capacity, and large-scale technical training for the workforce.
To support the zone’s operations, the government has approved a Tk4,189 crore infrastructure project. The Chinese government will provide Tk2,467 crore in concessional financing, with the Bangladesh government funding the remainder.
This package includes a 1,235-metre connecting road, 330-metre bridge, 25-million-litre Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), and 20,000-deadweight-ton multipurpose jetty.
