Chinese Economic Zone Breaks Ground in Chattogram, Targeting $500M FDI

Chattogram, July 26, 2026 — The Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) in Chattogram's Anwara upazila has officially broken ground, marking the formal start of construction for one of Bangladesh's flagship investment initiatives. 🚀 Authorities expect the project to attract around 💰 $500 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) and create more than 1 lakh direct and indirect jobs.

📅 The groundbreaking ceremony was held at 10 AM at the project site in Anwara. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury attended the event. 🇧🇩🇨🇳

🏭 Project Overview

The government-to-government project is being developed on approximately 800 acres of land and is considered one of Bangladesh's flagship initiatives to deepen economic cooperation with China while expanding the country's export-oriented manufacturing base. 📊

• 📍 Location: Anwara upazila, Chattogram
• 📏 Land area: ~800 acres
• 💰 Expected FDI: ~$500 million
• 👥 Expected jobs: 100,000+ (direct and indirect)
• 📅 Completion target: December 31, 2031
• 📅 60% plots ready: Within first 3 years

👕 Benefits for RMG Industry

🤝 Business leaders have welcomed the government's move to expedite the long-delayed project. SM Abu Tayyab, a director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), highlighted the substantial benefits for the RMG sector:

"We import fabrics, accessories and other raw materials from China, which increases both lead time and production costs. If Chinese manufacturers produce and supply these inputs from the economic zone in Chattogram, it will save both time and money, reduce production costs and enhance the competitiveness of our apparel sector."

🏭 The zone is expected to host Chinese as well as domestic and other foreign investors in sectors including:

• 👕 Advanced textiles — backward linkage for RMG
• 💊 Pharmaceuticals
• 🔧 Light engineering
• 💻 Information technology
• 📦 Other export-oriented industries

📈 Fresh Momentum After PM's China Visit

🌏 The project gathered pace following Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's official visit to China on June 22-26, 2026, during which the two countries signed several investment-related deals. 🤝

• 📝 On June 25, BEZA exchanged a developer agreement with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) for development of the economic zone
• ✅ Ambassador Yao Wen confirmed almost all required documentation was completed within four months of the new government's tenure
• 💰 More than 30 Chinese companies have already committed around $500 million in investment

🌏 The ambassador described the progress of CEIZ as a signal that Bangladesh is open for Chinese investment, following strong investment interest generated by meetings between the prime minister and leading Chinese companies in Beijing and Dalian.

💰 Tk4,189 Crore Infrastructure Investment

🏛 The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved a Tk4,189 crore supporting infrastructure project for the economic zone on June 16, 2026, shortly before the prime minister's China visit. 📊

• 🇨🇳 Chinese financing: Tk2,467 crore through concessional financing
• 🇧🇩 Bangladesh financing: Remaining amount from government funds
• 🚢 Infrastructure includes roads, power, water supply, and waste management

👥 Industry Response

Amirul Haque, President of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), expressed hope that a dedicated economic zone for Chinese companies would further strengthen trade and economic partnership between the two countries: 🤝

"Besides creating employment opportunities, the zone will help expand international trade and attract more foreign investment."

📈 Major General (Retd) Md Nazrul Islam, Executive Member (Planning and Development) at BEZA, said that although the implementation period is five years, at least 60% of industrial plots are expected to be ready for factory construction within the first three years.