Hydroponics tent factory in Bepza EZ: $30.5m investment, 3,000 jobs expected

Greenhouse hydroponics tent manufacturing is opening a new avenue for Bangladesh's export-oriented industrial sector. A modern production facility is being set up at the Bepza Economic Zone in Mirsarai, Chattogram, with an investment of $30.47 million by Hong Kong–China-based Green Pure Houseware (BD) Company Limited. 

Stakeholders say this is not just a new factory – it marks a significant milestone in the country's industrial diversification.

According to officials at the Mirsarai Bepza Economic Zone, the project was approved in January this year. Following a deal signed with Bepza in March, the company was allocated six plots covering around 22,000 square metres. Construction has already been launched, with production expected to begin by March next year.

Hydroponics, or soilless farming technology, is rapidly gaining popularity worldwide. The specialised greenhouse tents used in this system help produce high-value crops in controlled environments. For the first time in Bangladesh, such products will be manufactured on an industrial scale – potentially opening access to a new global market.

Project sources said the factory will not only produce hydroponics tents but also EVA cabinet mats, cartons and PE packaging film, making it a multi-product manufacturing hub. The annual production target is set at around 4 lakh to 5 lakh units of tents and related products, primarily for export to the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan.

Stakeholders believe this investment could help reduce Bangladesh's heavy reliance on the ready-made garments sector. Hydroponics tents are non-traditional, high value-added products with rapidly growing global demand. As such, they could add a new dimension to the country's export basket and facilitate entry into higher-value markets.

From an economic perspective, job creation is one of the most significant aspects of the project. Once operational, the factory is expected to employ about 3,000 Bangladeshi workers, providing a major boost to the local economy in and around the Mirsarai economic zone. The project is also likely to stimulate growth in transport, housing, small businesses and service sectors.

Project Director of the Bepza Economic Zone, Md Enamul Haque, told The Business Standard that the initiative is part of a long-term strategic plan aimed at attracting investment, diversifying products and building high-tech industries. He added that Bepza is gaining investor confidence by ensuring a business-friendly environment and providing world-class infrastructure.

With rising global demand for agricultural technology and smart farming, stakeholders see hydroponics tent manufacturing as a timely initiative for Bangladesh. In the face of climate change, land scarcity and food security challenges, such technology could play an important role in the future.