Factories start commercial production in Bangabandhu Shilpa Nagar
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CHATTOGRAM, Nov 10: Factories in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar (BSMSN) at Mirsarai Economic Zone (MEZ) in the port city of Chattogram has started commercial production.
The first consignment of exports has gone from the Shilpa Nagar.
China-owned KPST Su (BD) Company Limited has received approval from the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) after completing all processes. Export of goods from this industrial city will start next week.
Sources said the first shipment will be EVA sheet for shoe-making materials.
KPST Shoe (BD) Company Limited started commercial production from November 3 last. The company has so far invested $3.48 million with an investment plan of $8.06 million.
Official sources said following all the procedures of export, this shipment will go to Blue Ocean Footwear in Gazipur.
Blue Ocean Footwear is procuring shoe-making materials from KPST as a designated foreign buyer.
When the first export is being processed in Bangabandhu Shilpa Nagar, two more companies are going into production.
In the meantime, Japan's Nippon Steel, McDonald Steel, Asian Paints, Samuda Food and Marico Company have gone into production.
They have also started delivering products within the country. Apart from this, Bashundhara Chemical Industry and Modern Syntex will go into production soon.
Seven factories at the Shilpa Nagar have started production so far.
Three more factories here will start production early next year.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar is being built on 30,000 acres of land in Mirsarai, Sitakunda and Sonagazi.
About 136 companies have invested $17,839 million in 5,043 acres of land where an employment target for about 7,52,593 people has been set.
Sources said considering the aspects that Mirsarai Economic Zone will serve as a major investment area for the garment sector, BEZA is planning to add another 13,000 acres of land along with 30,000 acres.
Ongoing Mirsarai Economic Zone project (first phase) was geared to build 250 plots initially.
But the BEPZA proposed that 539 industrial plots be readied since the authorities believe such a measure will ensure $2.7 billion investment and will generate four lakh jobs.
The numbers of industrial plots at Mirsarai Economic Zone will be increased due to demands from both local and foreign investors.
Meanwhile, a revised project proposal from BEPZA has already been sent to the Planning Commission in this regard.
According to the revised proposal, the project cost will go up to Tk 13.5038 billion (Tk1350.38 crore) from the original Tk7,500 million (Tk750.58 crore).
As per revised development project proposal (DPP), the size of 539 industrial plots will be 18.18 lakh square meters. Besides, infrastructure development is ongoing on 360 acres of land in order for the industrial plots to be made ready.
It may be mentioned that Mirsarai Economic Zone, the biggest industrial reserve and also Bangladesh's first multi-sector economic zone, will be developed step by step in several phases.