Tk4,189cr infrastructure plan advances Chinese economic zone in Anwara
According to sources, a delegation from the Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim Bank) is scheduled to meet Beza tomorrow to discuss financing arrangements, infrastructure development and implementation mechanisms.
After more than a decade of delays due to administrative, financing and implementation hurdles, the proposed Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Chattogram's Anwara upazila is finally moving towards implementation.
The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) is working to complete the developer agreement and secure approval for the project's supporting infrastructure before Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's scheduled four-day visit to China starting on 23 June.
As part of that effort, a Tk4,189.46 crore infrastructure development project for the economic zone will be placed before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council today (9 June).
The project has been initiated by the Prime Minister's Office, while Beza will serve as the implementing agency.
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According to sources, a delegation from the Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim Bank) is scheduled to meet Beza tomorrow to discuss financing arrangements, infrastructure development and implementation mechanisms.
"We hope to complete the developer agreement with the Chinese company within this month," Beza Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury told The Business Standard yesterday.
"Our target is to finalise the agreement before the prime minister visits China," he added.
The Chinese economic zone is being developed on nearly 800 acres in Anwara under a government-to-government initiative between Bangladesh and China. Although the two countries reached an understanding on the project in 2014, progress remained stalled for years due to complications surrounding developer selection, financing arrangements and administrative procedures.
Initially, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited was expected to develop the project, but failure to finalise an agreement led to years of delays. In 2022, the Chinese government nominated China Road and Bridge Corporation as the new developer.
Officials said preparation and approval of the Development Project Proposal also took considerable time. While Beza is responsible for off-site infrastructure such as roads, gas, electricity and water connections, the developer will carry out internal development works. Lack of coordination between the two components slowed implementation.
According to Beza, all required land acquisition has already been completed and infrastructure construction can begin once the developer agreement is signed.
Under the revised development project proposal submitted to Ecnec, the project includes construction of a multipurpose jetty with a capacity of 20,000 deadweight tonnes, a jetty access road and bridge, four-lane roads, a 25-million-litre central effluent treatment plant, power substations and transmission lines, gas supply facilities, water reservoirs, boundary walls and other supporting infrastructure.
Of the total project cost, Tk1,722 crore will come from government funds, while Tk2,467 crore is expected from China's Preferential Buyer's Credit facility.
Explaining the rationale behind the site selection, Beza said the upazila was chosen for the project due to its strong geographical and economic advantages, making it a strategically important location.
The area is situated close to key national infrastructure, including Chittagong Port, Karnaphuli Tunnel, Shah Amanat International Airport, and several industrial hubs in the port city.
Beza estimates the economic zone will generate at least 100,000 direct and indirect jobs and attract around $500 million in foreign investment. The zone is expected to draw investment in textiles, pharmaceuticals, light engineering, information technology and other manufacturing sectors.
Major General (retd) Md Nazrul Islam, executive member (Planning and Development) at Beza, told TBS that the project would be implemented over five years if approved by Ecnec and is scheduled for completion by 31 December 2031.
"Although five years have been allocated for the entire project, we expect to prepare at least 60% of the factory-ready industrial plots within the first three years," he said.
