Setting-up of integrated cement plant with KSA investment in the offing

Engineering Dimension International Investment LLC (EDII) of Saudi Arabia inaugurated its Dhaka office recently at Gulshan Avenue with the approval of BIDA.

Under a joint venture investment agreement between Engineering Dimension International Investment LLC (EDII) of Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) signed 29th June, 2020 an integrated clinker & cement plant will be established with an investment worth US$ 450 million eqv. (Taka 4000 crore), said a statement.

Following the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 17th October 2018, an MOU was signed for setting-up the plant in Chhatak, Shunamgonj with production capacity of 12,000 tonnes clinker & 3000 tonnes cement per day.

The project will cater to the demand of the clinker based cement factories in Bangladesh by supplying four million tons of clinker per annum against the country's import of nineteen million tons per annum and save net foreign exchange of US$ 225 million annually. The project will also create huge employment opportunities.

The ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh, Essa Yusuf Essa Al Dulaihan as the Chief Guest, The Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Mr. Sirazul Islam and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Industries of the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) Mr. Shibnath Roy were present as Special Guest on the occasion.

Dr. Javed Patwary, Ambassador of Bangladesh to KSA and Mohammad Najeeb M. Hejji, President of Engineering Dimension International Investment also attended the opening ceremony virtually due to the restrictions of travel on account of Covid-19.

Other high officials of the Govt of Bangladesh, BCIC and dignitaries were also present in the ceremony.