Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone in Chattogram has recorded major long-term growth in industrial investment, with total foreign and local investment reaching $787.33 million after starting with only $1.91 million in its first fiscal year of operation. The rise represents a 412-fold increase over roughly two decades and highlights how the zone has developed into an important manufacturing and export location. Karnaphuli EPZ now accommodates 40 large, medium and small industrial units across 258 industrial plots. Twenty-nine of the operating enterprises are fully foreign owned, three are joint ventures and eight are owned by local entrepreneurs. Another five industrial enterprises are under implementation, adding further production space to the zone’s future capacity. Investors from 14 countries and territories have established businesses there, including companies connected with China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands and Malaysia. This international mix shows the zone’s ability to attract manufacturing capital from several markets. Export performance has also grown strongly since shipments began. Cumulative exports from the zone have exceeded $14 billion, demonstrating that investment has been translated into significant international trade. Export processing zones are important to Bangladesh because they bring together industrial land, infrastructure, customs arrangements, utilities and investment services in locations designed for production. When they function well, they can make it easier for manufacturers to establish factories, employ workers and connect with global buyers. The growth of Karnaphuli EPZ also benefits Chattogram’s broader industrial ecosystem. Factories create demand for transport, packaging, maintenance, food services, housing, banking and local suppliers, allowing investment to support activity beyond the zone itself. The presence of new enterprises under implementation suggests that the area still has room for further expansion. Long-term success will depend on reliable utilities, efficient port links, strong labour standards and continued attention to environmental performance. Bangladesh already has a strong reputation in export manufacturing, and diversified industrial zones can help broaden that strength into more products and investors. Karnaphuli EPZ’s two-decade rise provides a clear example of how sustained infrastructure, investment facilitation and export orientation can build durable manufacturing capacity over time.
