Sky Bees Limited, a newly formed company, is set to sign an agreement today with the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza) for land to establish an export-oriented unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) production facility.
The company plans to invest around Tk 550 crore to build the facility within Bepza’s industrial estate at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar in Mirsarai, Chattogram.
Sky Bees expects to begin production in early 2025 and projects annual exports of UAVs worth $169 million, or approximately Tk 2,300 crore.
Founded by industrialist Josim Ahmed, who has a strong background in the textile and garment accessories sectors in Dhaka and Ishwardi export processing zones, Sky Bees represents a shift toward advanced UAV technology.
Ahmed, who has previously helped establish joint ventures with partners from Spain and China, views this new venture as a significant opportunity for Bangladesh’s export market.
Ahmed described the project as reflecting the dreams of “many dreamers and confident young people” and said the journey has been filled with challenges but driven by innovation.
He praised his team, whose determination he says “makes us brave,” and noted their progress in UAV technology despite limited research and development support.
Sky Bees has secured overseas training for its engineers to enhance their drone development skills. The factory will initially produce high-capacity rotary-wing drones for firefighting and VTOL drones for cinematography, mapping, and surveillance, along with plans for 10 additional models with various payload capacities and endurance.
These UAVs, designed for civil use, will be employed in tasks like pesticide spraying, delivery services, and disaster relief operations.
Ahmed said the company aims to produce and export 7,314 UAVs annually. ASM Anwar Parvez, executive director of public relations at Bepza, confirmed they are set to sign the land lease deal with Sky Bees to establish the factory.
