Diplomatic Desk:
The inauguration of the construction of the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) to be established in Anwara, Chittagong was held today, Monday (July 27, 2026).
If implemented, the project will attract an investment of about 1.3 billion US dollars and create more than one lakh direct and indirect jobs. CEIZ will be established as a milestone in developing Chittagong as a modern industrial and logistics hub and taking Bangladesh-China economic cooperation to new heights.
Honorable Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury was present as the chief guest at the event. Honorable Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed was present as the special guest. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh His Excellency Yao Wen and Executive Chairman (State Minister rank) of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Ashiq Chowdhury spoke at the event.
The Honorable State Minister for Land and Hill Tracts Affairs, Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin and the Honorable Member of Parliament for Chittagong-13 (Anowara-Karnaphuli) Sarwar Jamal Nizam also spoke at the event. Local members of parliament from Chittagong were also present at the event.
Vice President of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), the developer of the China Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) project, Li Changgui, and Chairman of Bangladesh CEIZ Company Limited (BCCL), Wang Benqian, also spoke at the event. In addition, about 70 Chinese business representatives, including existing and potential investors from various sectors of Bangladesh, participated in the event. Several sub-lease agreements were signed, the CEIZ One-Stop Service Center was inaugurated, and the construction of the CEIZ was formally launched through tree plantation.
Li Changgui, Vice President of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), said, “With today’s groundbreaking, the project has entered a new stage, bringing with it new responsibilities and expectations. CRBC will work closely with all relevant stakeholders to advance the construction and operation of CEIZ. Our goal is to build CEIZ into an important platform for bilateral industrial cooperation, an attractive destination for international investment, and a model zone for mutually beneficial cooperation. We are willing to make greater contributions to the common development of the two countries.”
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh H.E. Yao Wen said, “Today’s groundbreaking of the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Chittagong is an important step towards implementing the results of Honorable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to China. At this new historic beginning, China is ready to join hands with Bangladesh to further advance the long-standing friendship, deepen strategic coordination and expand practical cooperation. We want to work together to translate the important consensus of the leaderships of the two countries into tangible benefits for development.”
Honorable Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said, “We all have one goal—investment. Investment will be the main driving force for the country’s development, job creation and progress towards the goal of a trillion-dollar economy by 2034. Today’s progress of the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone is therefore an important foundation for the government’s economic future plan.”
Honorable Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said, “Our message to domestic and foreign investors is clear: Bangladesh is open for business, and we are serious about it. Today’s groundbreaking is not just the beginning of construction; it is the foundation of a long-lasting economic bridge between Bangladesh and China. Together, we want to build a zone that will set new standards, drive sustainable growth, and create a prosperous future for generations to come.”
BEZA Executive Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury said, “After the Honorable Prime Minister’s visit to Beijing and Dalian in June, more than 30 Chinese companies have pledged to invest nearly half a billion dollars in this zone. In Bangladesh, it usually takes six months to a year to set up a factory or obtain the necessary approvals. We have already promised that within the next three months, a process will be launched that will enable the start of business within 14 days. This is a real and significant change compared to decades of experience in the investment environment in Bangladesh.”
CEIZ is being built on about 800 acres of land, one of the most important projects in industrial, trade, and investment cooperation between Bangladesh and China. Implemented under the G2G (Government-to-Government) initiative, this economic zone will play an important role in attracting large-scale Chinese investment, export-oriented industrialization, job creation and development of modern industrial infrastructure in Bangladesh. The initiative to establish this economic zone was taken in continuation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Bangladesh in 2016.
On June 17, 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the Development Agreement and Land Lease Agreement with Bangladesh CEIZ Company Limited, formed to implement CEIZ. Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) will hold 30 percent and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) will hold 70 percent shares in this company. The 50-year lease value of the land acquired as part of BEZA has been included as equity and the developer will invest their share as cash capital, which will be used for internal development, infrastructure construction and operation of the zone.
The “Supporting Infrastructure Project for Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone” was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on June 16, 2026, with the aim of ensuring a world-class industrial environment in CEIZ.
The project, which is being implemented at a cost of about Tk 4,189 crore, will include the construction of a 1,235-meter-long jetty link road, a 1,181-meter-long four-lane road, a multipurpose jetty with a capacity of 20,000 deadweight tons, a 25-MLD Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), a 4.24-MMCFD gas transmission line and a District Regulating Station (DRS), a 20,304-cubic-meter-capacity water reservoir, a 60-ton-per-day solid waste collection station, about 12 kilometers of boundary wall, and two 33/11 kV substations.
The total cost of the project, according to the Development Project Proposal (DPP), is about Tk 4,189 crore. Of this, about Tk 2,467 crore will be spent from foreign loan assistance and about Tk 1,722 crore from the Government of Bangladesh’s own funds. Part of the foreign financing is proposed to be obtained under the Preferential Buyer’s Credit (PBC) facility of China’s Exim Bank.
Through the implementation of this infrastructure project, all the supporting infrastructure of international standards including gas, electricity, water, waste management, transportation and jetty facilities required for setting up industries in CEIZ will be ensured. A tripartite agreement has already been signed between BEZA, Chittagong WASA (CWASA) and CRBC to ensure water supply.
The implementation period of the project has been set from January 2027 to December 2031. The geographical location of this area is very important as it is close to the Karnaphuli Tunnel, Chittagong Sea Port and Shah Amanat International Airport.
It is to be noted that this project will be helpful in implementing several important promises of the election manifesto 2026. In particular, it is directly consistent with (a) maximum priority on employment creation, (b) investment and foreign direct investment and (c) capacity building of the industrial park under the third chapter “Restructuring and Restoration of the Economy”.
The project is also consistent with the implementation of the goal of “Establishing Chittagong as a commercial capital” under the fourth chapter of the Election Manifesto 2026, “Region-based Balanced Development”, which calls for developing the Chittagong region as a significant employment center.
