Hi-Tech Park Authority inks deals with nine cos investing $55m

The Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority on Thursday signed land transfer agreements with nine companies who are investing $55 million in Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City in Gazipur and Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park in Jashore.

BHTPA Managing Director Bikarna Kumar Ghosh signed the agreements with a 40-year tenure at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.

At the same programme, the BHTPA also handed over an approval letter to Halima Telecom to develop at a private high-tech park in Cumilla.

Under the deals, Walton Hi-Tech Industries Limited got 3.01 acres of land in Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City in Gazipur as a hardware company. The company will invest $6.50 million in IT/ITES, digital device manufacturing, and ensure the employment of 1,550 people.

Technomedia Limited got 0.87 acres there and they will invest about $2.50 million to assemble ATM, CRM, RCDM machines and create 200 jobs.

Daffodil Computers Ltd got 0.96 acres where they will invest $3 million to assemble IT and electronic products and create jobs for 100 people.

Celtron Electro Manufacturing Services Limited will set up a medical technology plant on 0.75 acres of land with an investment of about $7 million to assemble and manufacture medical equipment. They will employ 250 people.

Ulkasemi Pvt Ltd got 1.61 acres of land to invest $25 million to design semiconductors and create 550 jobs.

MacTel Ltd is investing $6 million to assemble smartphones on 1.37 acres of land.

In Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park in Jashore, Reddot Digital Limited and Felicity Big Data Limited will set up data centres investing on 0.21 and 0.45 acres of land respectively.

Planning Minister MA Mannan attended the event as chief guest.

“Now is the right time to build a sustainable high-tech manufacturing ecosystem in Bangladesh where high-tech parks can play a leading role. A labour-intensive economy is not enough to survive the competition of emerging economies to overcome the risks of a global recession after Covid-19,” said the minister.

In the current context, countries with a focus on developing knowledge-based and technology-based industries will be able to attract foreign direct investment, he added.

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak said, “Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City is a flagship project of BHTPA which is established on 355 acres of land in Kaliakair of Gazipur.

“On Thursday’s agreement, companies are allotted land to work on high technology such as hardware, software, IoT, BPO, research and development, data centre, etc. Employment opportunities for about 3,500 people will be created in the two parks. ”

He added eight high-tech parks in the country are ready for investment at the moment, three of which are waiting for the inauguration.

Products produced in Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City are being exported abroad and more than 150 local startup companies have been allotted free co-working space in high-tech parks, he added.

“BHTPA is providing services to the investors through a one-stop service centre. It offers 148 kinds of services, out of which 43 services are being provided online,” he added.

Bikarna Kumar Ghosh said, “Space and plots have been allotted to 166 companies in the country’s high-tech parks. The total private investment in these parks is Tk 570 crore, and the investment of high-tech parks authority is Tk 950 crore. The investment target of the companies by 2025 is Tk 4,000 crore. Of this, Orix Biotech Limited will invest about $300 million in Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City.”