Invest Bangladesh is trying to prevent utility shortages from delaying industrial production at the National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ) in Mirsharai, Chattogram, by assessing investors’ requirements for gas, electricity and water before handing over land.
The agency is collecting estimates of how much of each utility prospective factories will need and plans to use the construction period to prepare the necessary infrastructure.
Invest Bangladesh Chairman Ashik Chowdhury told TBS that the agency is consulting all investors receiving land to ensure the required connections are available when their factories are ready to start operations.
“We are collecting estimates from all the investors whose land we are handing over to determine their requirements for gas, electricity and water,” he said.
He said factory construction takes time, giving the agency an opportunity to arrange utility infrastructure in advance rather than allowing shortages to hold up production after construction is completed.
The initiative comes as five companies have recently secured land in the economic zone, proposing investments of $109.536 million across 39.5 acres. Their projects are expected to create 6,714 jobs.
Rancon Lubricants Ltd, Hamko Corporation Ltd, Optimaplast Ltd, Savoy Food and Agro Industries Ltd, and Golden Food and Agro Industries Ltd received formal land handover certificates at a ceremony at the NSEZ conference room on 18 October.
Savoy Food and Agro Industries and Golden Food and Agro Industries will jointly invest $52.80 million on 20 acres. Hamko Corporation has been allotted 10 acres for an investment of $33.336 million, while Rancon Lubricants will invest $19.50 million on 6.5 acres. Optimaplast has received three acres for a proposed investment of $3.90 million.
According to the latest NSEZ data, 134 plots have been allocated so far. Sixteen industrial enterprises are already in commercial production, while another 15 factories are under construction.
The NSEZ has generated around 8,000 jobs. Including approximately 8,000 workers employed at the BEPZA Economic Zone, employment across the wider industrial area has reached about 16,000.
As of today, realised domestic investment in the NSEZ stood at Tk12,815 crore, while foreign direct investment totalled $147 million. Around 5,500 acres have been developed in the economic zone.
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