Summit Technopolis, a joint venture between Summit Group of Bangladesh and Infinity Infotech Parks of India, yesterday started construction to build the country's biggest hi-tech park in Gazipur.

In June last year, the government awarded Summit Technopolis two of the five blocks of the 232-acre Kaliakoir Hi-Tech Park. The two blocks span over 65 acres and 29 acres of land respectively.

At the ground breaking ceremony yesterday, Summit Technopolis said it will develop its blocks with modern multi-tenanted buildings, industrial plots, and research, development and recreational facilities.

EWIS Tech Manufacturing, a joint venture between Sri Lanka's IT firm EWIS and Tech Manufacturing Company of Bangladesh, will set up a modern hi-tech manufacturing facility to produce smart electronic devices.

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak inaugurated yesterday's ceremony, while ICT Secretary Shyam Sunder Sikder chaired the event.

Muhammed Aziz Khan, chairman of Summit Group, Ravindra Chamaria, chairman of Infinity Infotech, and Hosne Ara Begum, managing director of the Hi-Tech Park Authority, were also present.

Big multinational companies are keen to invest in the two blocks, Summit Technopolis said without naming the investors.

Summit Technopolis will invest $114.56 million for Block-2 and $93.03 million for Block-5. Summit holds a 90 percent stake in the joint venture while the Indian company controls the rest 10 percent.

At the ceremony, Palak said nearly 70,000 youths would get jobs in the next 10 years at the hi-tech park.

“It will be a specialised economic zone and a lifeline of the country's IT sector. A world-class business environment will be created for the local and foreign investors at the park.”

Summit Group is the country's largest power producer, generating over 1,200MW of electricity and operating the country's largest fibre optic network reaching over 30,000km.

Infinity Infotech has played the role of being the principal catalyst in bringing the IT revolution in West Bengal by creating 7 million square feet of green and intelligent IT workspace for over 600 companies.

Earlier, the government signed another deal with Bangladesh TechnoSity, which started to develop the 40-acre Block-3 from October last year.

Tender evaluation is ongoing for the Block-4 that spans 36 acres. The government has set aside Block-1, which spans 65 acres, for its own use.