According to the plan, Power China intends to participate in the development of Chandpur Economic Zone-1 in Chandpur.

Apart from this, the second project is the Bhola Eco-Development Economic Zone, which will be developed by Leez Fashion Industries Limited, a Chinese company operating in Bangladesh. The Bhola Eco-Development Economic Zone has great potential to attract foreign investment in the garment, textile, electronics and ceramic sectors.

The Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) has prepared a detailed project proposal for the China-Bangladesh Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) in Anwara since 2016 and submitted it to the Planning Commission. Officials expect the project to be approved at the upcoming meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). The China-Bangladesh Economic Zone in Anwara is expected to attract an investment of $1.5 billion, while the Birla Eco Development Economic Zone is expected to attract $1.8 billion. The final investment amount for the Chandpur Economic Zone-1 will be determined after a technical feasibility study, BEZA officials confirmed.

Officials said the upcoming governing body meeting may also decide to allocate land from abandoned jute and textile mills under its management to speed up foreign investment and ensure supply of gas and electricity.

Chaudhry Ashiq Mahmood Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority, announced that 200 Chinese business representatives, led by the Chinese Minister of Commerce, will visit Bangladesh next month to explore investment opportunities. They have already started discussions with the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA). An unnamed BIDA official confirmed that the 200-member Chinese delegation is mostly composed of textile and garment raw material exporters. These companies already export goods to Bangladesh, and based on their internal cost analysis, establishing operations within Bangladesh will enable them to supply raw materials at a lower cost, thus stimulating their interest in direct investment.

In addition, Mamon Mrida, former secretary general of the Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce, told Business Standard that a business delegation from Yunnan Province, China, will visit Bangladesh next month. The delegation visited Bangladesh last year and held talks with companies such as ACI and Energypac on investments in the automotive and electronics industries. "However, progress on these investment plans has slowed down due to political changes," Mrida pointed out. He confirmed that the Chinese business delegation will return next month to re-discuss investment proposals. Mrida also stressed that many Chinese investors are keen to invest in Bangladesh's renewable energy, textiles and garments, leather and leather products, information and communication technology, agricultural product processing, agricultural machinery industry and blue economy.

The increasing tariffs imposed by the United States on Chinese products have led some export-oriented Chinese companies to explore other investment destinations. More and more Chinese textile companies are considering moving their factories to Bangladesh. (This article is from the official website of Seetao www.seetao.com. Reprinting without permission is prohibited. Otherwise, it will be investigated. Please indicate Seetao.com + original link for reprinting) Seetao.com Strategy Column Editor/Sun Fengjuan