Chittagong Anwara Gets Policy Approval for Chinese Economic Zone Establishment

PNN News Desk | Chittagong

Significant progress has been made in establishing a special economic and industrial zone for Chinese investors in Anwara upazila of Chittagong.

The Economic Affairs Cabinet Committee has granted in-principle approval for signing an agreement between the Special Purpose Company (SPC) “Bangladesh CEIZ Co. Limited” and relevant authorities regarding development and land lease arrangements.

The decision was taken at a meeting held at the Secretariat on Wednesday. The meeting was chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.

According to sources, a modern economic zone is planned to be developed on approximately 800 acres of land in Anwara through a joint initiative of the government and Chinese investors. For this purpose, a company named “Bangladesh CEIZ Co. Limited” has been formed.

Under the proposed ownership structure, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) will hold 30 percent shares, while China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) will hold the remaining 70 percent.

The cost of long-term lease of acquired land under BEZA’s share will be treated as capital investment. The Chinese partner will invest cash, which will be used for infrastructure development, internal roads, administrative operations, and other development activities.

After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani told reporters that approval had been given in principle to proceed with necessary agreements. This will help move forward the initial stage of establishing the industrial zone.

He said the project is still in its early phase, and details regarding investment amount, types of industries, infrastructure planning, and implementation framework will be finalized in later stages.

He further added that this initiative is part of broader efforts to expand economic cooperation between Bangladesh and China. A unified industrial zone for investors from the same country can simplify business operations, communication, and supply chain management, which will also attract further investment.

Officials believe that if implemented, the project could positively impact industrialization, job creation, and foreign investment in the Chittagong region. However, the full project framework and detailed investment information will be disclosed later.