Staff Correspondent

Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Fakhrul Mahbub Anam has announced that life has returned to the Kaliakair High-Tech Park, with significant investment proposals pouring in from global tech giants such as Google, Meta, and TikTok.

The minister made the remarks on Saturday during an inspection of the country's first high-tech park in Gazipur's Kaliakair upazila, aimed at assessing the progress of the government's 180-day action plan, domestic and foreign investments, and employment generation potential.

Highlighting the government's commitment to transforming Bangladesh into an international hub for software, apps, and hardware through the "Made in Bangladesh" initiative, Minister Fakhrul Mahbub Anam stated that steps are underway to accelerate investments under the "National Green Industrial Policy" and introduce fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.

Out of 85 companies—including 7 foreign firms—that have been allotted land or ready space at the park, 40 are currently in production or business operation, 28 are under construction, and 17 are set to begin construction soon. Total investment proposals stand at approximately $1.636 billion, with around $283 million already invested, while the government has spent over Tk 500 crore on basic infrastructure. Furthermore, seven companies from China, Japan, India, South Korea, and the United States have submitted foreign investment proposals totaling roughly $629 million.

The park currently hosts manufacturers of mobile phones, laptops, ATM and cash recycler machines, fiber-optic cables, and vehicles, alongside production lines for IoT devices, routers, switches, CCTV systems, home appliances, kidney dialysis machines, and kiosks. Additionally, a US-based company is constructing an AI data center project that has drawn investment proposals from global entities including Google, Meta, and TikTok. Once fully developed, the park is expected to generate direct and indirect employment for around 100,000 people.

While noting the progress, the minister emphasized the need to address key challenges, including completing basic infrastructure, strengthening security and CCTV monitoring, ensuring uninterrupted dual-line electricity and gas connections, and resolving staffing shortages to streamline investor services. To boost investment further, proposals are being formulated to offer tariff and tax exemptions on capital machinery imports, VAT benefits on utility services, expanded lists of high-tech products, and dedicated incentive frameworks for emerging tech sectors like electric vehicle, solar, and UPS batteries.

The minister was accompanied during the visit by Kaliakair High-Tech Park Managing Director Md. Fazlur Rahman and other senior government and security officials.