Nilphamari – China-based Tianford Bangladesh Textile Co Ltd is moving ahead with a major expansion in northern Bangladesh, investing US$19.6 million in a new knitted garment production unit at the Uttara Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Nilphamari.
The Hong Kong-headquartered company has signed a land lease agreement with the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) for a 24,000-square-metre plot, where it will install capacity to produce around seven million pieces of knit and woven apparel annually.
The new facility will focus on a broad product mix including bottoms, shirts, jeans, jackets and sweaters for key export markets such as the USA, Canada, Japan, China, Australia, Brazil, the UK and the EU, and is expected to generate around 3,250 new jobs.
Speaking at the signing, BEPZA executive chairman Major General Mohammad Moazzem Hossain said the new government was prioritising investment and urged Tianford to maximise the use of locally sourced raw materials to support the country’s upstream textile and knitting industries.
He reiterated BEPZA’s commitment to a seamless, business-friendly service platform designed to ensure efficient implementation and long-term operation of projects within the zones, highlighting ongoing efforts to upgrade services and infrastructure for global investors.
Tianford representative Mr Ge Zhenyu welcomed BEPZA’s investor-focused approach and said the company views Bangladesh as an increasingly attractive sourcing base for international brands and retailers.
Construction of the Nilphamari plant is scheduled to begin in April, with Tianford targeting the start of exports from the new unit next year, further strengthening Bangladesh’s position in the global knitwear and apparel supply chain.
