Pran-RFL's new agro-processing park to create 3,000 jobs

The Kaliganj Agro Processing Limited (KAPL), an industrial park being developed by one of Bangladesh's leading conglomerates, Pran-RFL Group, is progressing rapidly.

With an investment of Tk 7.5 billion already made out of a total projected investment of Tk 15 billion, the park is on track to become a major agro-industrial hub.

Located in Gazipur's Kaliganj upazila, the industrial facility spans 180 bighas (approximately 60 acres) and has already generated direct employment for around 900 people.

Once fully operational, the industrial park is expected to create up to 3,000 jobs, offering a significant boost to the local economy, officials from the Pran-RFL Group told a group of reporters during a recent site visit.

Several factories within the park have already started production of essential items such as different types of flour, pulses, and poultry feed.

Besides, KAPL has plans to gradually add more production units, further expanding the park's manufacturing capacity.

At the facility, a modern automated flour mill, built on 21 bighas of land and rising as tall as a ten-story building, has recently started full-scale production, now producing 500 tonnes of flour daily, including several varieties such as atta, maida and semolina.

Talking to reporters, Eleash Mridha, Managing Director of PRAN Group, said atta and maida hold a significant share in the consumer goods market.

With rising population and growing income levels, demand for flour-based products like biscuits, noodles, and frozen foods is increasing rapidly, he said.

Consequently, major companies are venturing into the bakery, culinary and food processing sectors, leading to a greater demand for flour, he added.

Recognising these market trends, PRAN Group has entered the flour production market, Mr Mridha said.

PRAN Group believes that entry of new entrepreneurs into the consumer goods sector will foster competition, ultimately benefiting consumers through offering better quality products at more competitive prices, he added.

According to market insiders, Bangladesh's flour mills collectively require 7.0 to 7.5 million tonnes of wheat annually, with a significant portion imported and around 1.0 to 1.2 million tonnes sourced locally.

The flour market, valued at approximately Tk 200 billion, is growing at an annual rate of 8-10 per cent.

Around 75 per cent of the demand for flour comes from businesses and restaurants, while the remaining 25 per cent is for household use.

Naser Ahmed, Executive Director of PRAN Group, said that in addition to the flour mill, production of poultry feed and lentil has already begun in the industrial park.

He also mentioned that the salt and spice mill would begin production soon.

Besides, the industrial estate will gradually accommodate production facilities for making starch, edible oil, noodles, beverages and biscuits, he said.

Also construction work on a jetty is going on in full swing. Officials expect this work to be completed by January next year.

Pran-RFL group has other major industrial parks in Narsingdi, Habiganj and Natore.

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