Kaliakoir Hi–Tech Park

Kaliakoir Hi–Tech Park or Hi–Tech City, Kaliakoir (HTCK) is a business park in Kaliakair of Gazipur District, Bangladesh.^[1][2] Originally called Kaliakoir Hi-Tech Park, after the municipality in which it is located, it was renamed in June 2016 to honor the founding president of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.^[3] After the fall of Hasina regime the name of this hi-tech city was renamed to Hi-Tech City, Kaliakoir.^[4] Many companies have invested in this sector.^[5]

History

The hi-tech park was formally proposed in June 1999 at a meeting of the Board of Investment. A feasibility study was conducted in 2001 by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.^[6] A boundary wall was constructed in 2008.^[7] A further assessment was performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2009. It said that one advantage of the location was that land acquisition was complete.^[8] In 2010, the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) was formed to regulate and operate hi-tech business parks in the country.

By June 2015, the authority had awarded contracts for basic infrastructure. One of two parts of a bypass road for local residents was complete, as was an internal access road. Construction had begun on sewer lines and a sewage treatment plant; the boundary wall was being extended to enclose an expected expansion, and replaced where it had been demolished during other construction; installation of street lighting was underway; and refurbishment of a three-storey building built in 2009 but not yet occupied was in progress.^[7]

The original 232 acres (94 ha) site is divided into five blocks. Block 1 is reserved for government use. Blocks 2 and 5 are being built by Summit Technopolis, a joint venture between Summit Group of Bangladesh and Infinity Infotech Parks of India. Bangladesh TechnoSity is developing Block 3.^[9] As of 2020, Block 4 has not been awarded. Summit Technopolis broke ground on their portion on 28 February 2016.^[5] By June of that year, the project had been expanded to 355 acres (144 ha).^[3]

Economy

The government offers various incentives to attract investors and tenants, such as tax breaks and exemptions on import duties.^[10][11]

As of November 2020, five companies are manufacturing in the park, employing 13,000 workers.^[12] Hyundai Motor Company has a manufacturing plant in this city.^[13]