Dhaka wants Chinese investors to restart dormant mills rather than build new ones — a strategy aimed at speeding returns and boosting industrial capacity.
Bangladesh is seeking fresh Chinese investment to reactivate non-operational textile units, positioning joint ventures as a faster and more efficient route to industrial revival. The proposal was tabled by Md Khorshed Alam, president of the Bangladesh-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCCI), during a meeting with leaders of the Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh (CEAB) on 25 November.
Alam argued that bringing stalled factories back into production offers quicker commercial payback than establishing greenfield mills. Many units already have infrastructure, utilities and location advantages, requiring targeted capital rather than full-scale reconstruction. BCCCI also offered facilitation support, including assistance in expediting Special Branch (SB) security clearances within existing regulations.
The proposal aligns with a broader push to deepen Bangladesh–China economic cooperation. CEAB president Han Kun identified scope for collaboration not only in textiles but also in infrastructure, G2G projects, power generation, renewables and construction materials. Reviving non-operational mills could strengthen Bangladesh’s backward linkages, stabilise yarn supply, and enhance export competitiveness at a time when the spinning and weaving sectors face financial strain.
Closer coordination between BCCCI and CEAB, Han noted, would allow both sides to address investment bottlenecks and accelerate resolution of outstanding policy issues.
Dhaka’s strategy attempts to leverage idle assets to attract foreign capital with shorter lead times. Whether Chinese firms respond with significant joint ventures will determine how quickly Bangladesh can restore capacity and sustain its textile-sector growth.
