Twelve Chinese companies have proposed investments worth US$9.21 billion in Bangladesh across the energy, infrastructure, logistics, manufacturing and education sectors following meetings with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during his recent visit to China.
The proposals were presented during separate meetings between the chief executives and senior representatives of the companies and the prime minister in Beijing on 25 June.
Ashik Chowdhury, Executive Director of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), who attended the meetings, said on Saturday that political stability had returned following the newly elected BNP government's assumption of office, helping restore investor confidence.
He said Bangladesh had also presented a five-year tax outlook for the first time, giving prospective foreign investors greater policy certainty and long-term predictability.
Among the proposals, Shanghai SUS Environment Co. Ltd. plans to invest US$890 million in developing waste-to-energy plants in Bangladesh. China Future Energy Group Holding Limited has proposed US$250 million for gas field exploration and development.
China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has offered US$650 million to develop and operate the Mongla Port Economic Zone, including bonded warehouse facilities and logistics infrastructure expected to create around 50,000 jobs.
Shenzhen Kaifa Technology Co. Ltd. has proposed investing US$250 million in manufacturing electric smart meters, while SF Express plans to invest US$180 million in cold-chain logistics and bonded warehouse facilities in Mongla to support e-commerce and export industries.
Huaxin Textile Industry Co. Ltd. has proposed a US$190 million investment to expand recycled cotton and yarn production, manufacture cylindrical lithium batteries and establish a 200 MW captive solar power plant in the Payra Port Industrial Zone.
Zhongxin Environmental Protection Group has submitted the largest single proposal, offering US$1.65 billion to establish an e-waste recycling and disposal industrial project in the Payra Port Industrial Zone.
CRRC Ziyan Co. Ltd. has proposed investing US$190 million in a rolling stock assembly plant through a joint venture with Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory. Sichuan Road & Bridge Group Co. Ltd. has proposed a US$4.5 billion investment in the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway Public-Private Partnership project.
China Kepai Education Group has offered US$270 million to establish an application-orientated university and vocational education industrial park with capacity for 30,000 students. China Shandong Zhongxin Pharmaceutical Co. Limited has proposed investing US$190 million to develop a large-scale Chinese medicinal herb cultivation industry in Bangladesh.
