The government has so far received investment proposals of US$ 23 billion from 127 local and foreign business bodies for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar (BSMSN) under development at Mirsarai.
Besides, during the stagnated situation of Covid-19, the economic zone has received around US$ 5 billion investment proposal, said an official of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA).
About the impact of Covid-19 on the investment, officials said BEZA got investment proposals worth around $3.150 billion during the Covid-19 pandemic although the deadly virus has affected the global economy, bringing investment and job creation to an alarming level across the globe.
Of the $3.150 billion, $0.545 billion will come as foreign direct investment (FDI) from China, India, Australia and the UK, according to official statistics.
As the government has planned to build the BSMSN as a state of the art and international standard greener economic zone, BEZA has taken up the “Development of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar” project at an overall estimated cost of Taka 4,347.21 crore.
Under this project, infrastructure will be developed in various zones including Zone 2A and Zone 2B of BSMSN for creating a private investment friendly environment, said executive chairman of BEZA Paban Chowdhury while talking to Bangladesh Post.
BSMSN is being developed on a contiguous land of 30000 acres at three upazilas- Mirsarai, Sitakundu and Sonagazi-which is located on the mouth of Feni River, covering 25 kms of coastlines of Sandeep channel of the Bay of Bengal, he said.
“Beyond these investment proposals, many world-renowned foreign companies are coming with big investment offers for the BSMSN, the country's largest industrial enclave,” according to BEZA.
Completely foreign and joint venture investment proposals with BEZA are gradually increasing, said Paban Chowdhury who attributed the rise in investment proposals to the government's investment-friendly policy and measures.
He said, “Globally reputed companies such as Berger Paints of the UK, Ramky Enviro Services Private Limited of India and HA Tech Limited of Australia signed investment proposals with BEZA, which looks after the country's state-run special economic zones (SEZs)”.
"It is a very positive sign for the country's economy that such big companies having billions of dollars annual turnovers are coming to invest in the BSMSN . . . we are hopeful that BSMSN would change the country's economic scenario in future," said the BEZA chief.
"We are building BSMSN a truly world-class business and industrial center and a self-contained Industrial City which will have Sea Port, Rail Connectivity, Marine Drive, Residential Area, Tourism Park, Power Plant, Hospital, School and University," said Paban Chowdhury.
Once completed, BSMSN will ensure employment for 1.5 million people within the next 15 years, he added.
According to BEZA, BEPZA has already been given 1150 acres of land in Mirsarai for setting up local and foreign industries.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has been given 500 acres of land in Mirsarai for setting up a well-planned ready-made garment factory park.
Country’s leading industrial conglomerate Bashundhara Group has already got 500 acres of land in Mirsarai and Feni part of BSMSN to set up 'Bashundhara Industrial Park' where it will invest US$ 500 million to set up industries.
Ananta Group has got 250 acres of land for 50 years and the company will invest about Tk 3,500 crore that is expected to generate employment for 25,000 people.
Kunming Iron & Steel Holding Company Limited, a state-owned Chinese company is going to invest an outstanding amount of Tk 2.13 billion in Bangladesh for establishing Iron and Steel Industries Park.
As per the instruction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, BEZA has taken steps to ensure maintenance of existing water bodies and create new water reservoirs and lakes in Mirsarai economic zone. Three lakes, each one having a size of approximately 100 acres of land, are going to be developed in this zone and the first one is in the implementation stage. The lakes have been named after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as "Sheikh Hasina Sarobar' which will promote tourist attractions ensuring environmental protection of the whole BSMSN.
