Smart Technologies opens Tk150cr HONOR phone assembly plant in Gazipur
Locally assembled HONOR X6c phone is priced at Tk14,990 – identical to imported units
Smart Technologies (BD) Limited has launched the country's first HONOR smartphone assembly facility at the Kaliakair Hi-Tech Park in Gazipur.
Set up with an investment of Tk150 crore, the plant has started operations by assembling the HONOR X6c, marking the brand's first "Made in Bangladesh" device. The company plans to start full-scale manufacturing after six months.
The factory was inaugurated on Tuesday (2 December) by Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and IT, in the presence of senior officials from the government, Smart Technologies and HONOR Global.
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The locally assembled HONOR X6c has been priced at Tk14,990 – identical to the price of officially imported units. Unofficial versions currently sell for Tk1,000-1,500 less in the market.
Asked why the price did not fall despite local assembly, a senior Smart Technologies official said, "The company had previously sold the imported model at a loss to stay competitive."
"We were the sole importers of this phone, and to survive in a highly competitive market, we sold it at a loss. Even now, the price remains lower than comparable models from other brands," the official said, adding that prices may gradually decrease once more HONOR models enter production.
Smart Technologies officials said they have initially assembled 15,000 units of the X6c and expect to raise daily capacity to 60,000 units once the facility becomes fully operational.
Managing Director Mohammad Zahirul Islam said the company has so far invested Tk150 crore in the plant, which also manufactures Sony electronics.
"Currently, we will only assemble HONOR phones but will go into full-scale manufacturing after six months," he said.
"When operating at full scale, the factory will employ more than 500 people. One production line is active now, and additional lines will open in the coming months," he said.
HONOR officials said the factory integrates AI-supported automation at key assembly stages to ensure precision and consistent quality in line with the brand's global standards.
Addressing the ceremony, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb said the plant marks a milestone in Bangladesh's digital transformation.
He said Bangladesh is at a critical moment. "We must expand device access, reduce skill gaps, and create quality jobs. Smart and HONOR have kept their promise. The government will soon activate the NEIR system to curb illegal smartphone imports and revise the duty structure to give local assemblers an advantage over importers," he said, adding that data prices will also fall once the country connects to its third and fourth submarine cables.
He further noted that upcoming cyber, data protection and digital governance frameworks will boost investor confidence and help raise smartphone penetration from the current 40% to as high as 70–80%.
George Zheng, president of HONOR Southeast Asia, described the new factory as a symbol of partnership. "This is not just a physical structure. It represents global expertise joining with local capability. We want to create a space where skills flourish, technology advances and communities thrive," he said.
