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Govt to scrutinise UAE's deep seaport funding proposal
High-powered body formed
Published : Tuesday, 19 February 2013
Syful Islam and Badrul Ahsan
The government has moved forward to scrutinise a proposal of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) expressing its interest to fund construction of a deep seaport at Sonadia on a government-to-government basis, officials said Monday.
A 10-member high-powered committee, headed by principal secretary to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), has been formed to examine the proposal the UAE submitted in last November.
In its proposal the UAE expressed interest to invest in Bangladesh's four ports: deep seaport in Cox's Bazar, Mongla Port, New Mooring Container Terminal, and Inland Container Deport (ICD) with rail connectivity in Dhaka.
The committee is also empowered to scrutinise and recommend proposals of other interested countries and development partners for construction of the port.
Besides the UAE, several other countries, including China and Germany, also expressed interest to invest in construction of the deep seaport.
The committee has been asked to discuss with the UAE's DP World about establishment of rail ICD, container freight station, and deep seaport. It will also coordinate inter-ministerial meetings based on discussions with the UAE government.
The other activities of the committee include: scrutinising steps relating to road-railway and other infrastructural development, reviewing construction of terminal and operational activities of private-sector ports, and making recommendations on the basis of techno-economic feasibility study carried out by Pacific Consultants International (PCI).
After the UAE had submitted the proposal, the Gulf nation's Minister for Foreign Trade Sheikha Lubna Bint Khaled Al Qasami visited Bangladesh last month (January). She met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and discussed about the country's interest to make the investment.
Sources said after receiving the proposal the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) wanted to know about the mode of investment the UAE wants to make in Bangladeshi ports since a number of development activities are going on.
According to officials, the Chittagong Port has taken steps for operating New Mooring Container Terminal from its own funding. Besides, the Chittagong Port and Bangladesh Railway have long been operating Dhaka ICD. Appointment of a private operator for the ICD is at final stage.
Earlier, the cabinet committee has decided to seek fund for construction of a deep seaport at Sonadia in Cox's Bazar on government-to-government basis.
Bangladesh has already sought funds from seven countries and the European Union (EU) for construction of the seaport. Request letter has been sent in this regard to India, China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, the UAE, the US and the EU through diplomatic channels.
In February last year Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan to find more than one investors for funding the port.
Mr Khan told the FE: "The PM is interested in investment from several countries or agencies instead of depending on one investor."
Officials said Bangladesh's ports have become very important for South Asian regional connectivity. So, many countries are interested to invest in this sector for good and quick return.
The country's two sea ports - Chittagong and Mongla - are likely to see a good rise in container handling once neighbouring India is granted transit and transhipment for carrying cargoes to its 'Seven Sisters' states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.
Alongside India, other countries like Nepal and Bhutan are also interested to enjoy the similar facilities for facilitating their external trade.
In 2006, Japanese firm PCI first conducted a feasibility study for construction of the proposed deep seaport. The seaport at the first stage will have five international-standard jetties with a yearly capacity of handling 704.01 million tonnes of containers. The cost was then estimated at Tk 600 billion.
Financial Express :: Financial Newspaper of Bangladesh
@eastwatch @UKBengali @saleen_s7
High-powered body formed
Published : Tuesday, 19 February 2013
Syful Islam and Badrul Ahsan
The government has moved forward to scrutinise a proposal of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) expressing its interest to fund construction of a deep seaport at Sonadia on a government-to-government basis, officials said Monday.
A 10-member high-powered committee, headed by principal secretary to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), has been formed to examine the proposal the UAE submitted in last November.
In its proposal the UAE expressed interest to invest in Bangladesh's four ports: deep seaport in Cox's Bazar, Mongla Port, New Mooring Container Terminal, and Inland Container Deport (ICD) with rail connectivity in Dhaka.
The committee is also empowered to scrutinise and recommend proposals of other interested countries and development partners for construction of the port.
Besides the UAE, several other countries, including China and Germany, also expressed interest to invest in construction of the deep seaport.
The committee has been asked to discuss with the UAE's DP World about establishment of rail ICD, container freight station, and deep seaport. It will also coordinate inter-ministerial meetings based on discussions with the UAE government.
The other activities of the committee include: scrutinising steps relating to road-railway and other infrastructural development, reviewing construction of terminal and operational activities of private-sector ports, and making recommendations on the basis of techno-economic feasibility study carried out by Pacific Consultants International (PCI).
After the UAE had submitted the proposal, the Gulf nation's Minister for Foreign Trade Sheikha Lubna Bint Khaled Al Qasami visited Bangladesh last month (January). She met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and discussed about the country's interest to make the investment.
Sources said after receiving the proposal the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) wanted to know about the mode of investment the UAE wants to make in Bangladeshi ports since a number of development activities are going on.
According to officials, the Chittagong Port has taken steps for operating New Mooring Container Terminal from its own funding. Besides, the Chittagong Port and Bangladesh Railway have long been operating Dhaka ICD. Appointment of a private operator for the ICD is at final stage.
Earlier, the cabinet committee has decided to seek fund for construction of a deep seaport at Sonadia in Cox's Bazar on government-to-government basis.
Bangladesh has already sought funds from seven countries and the European Union (EU) for construction of the seaport. Request letter has been sent in this regard to India, China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, the UAE, the US and the EU through diplomatic channels.
In February last year Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan to find more than one investors for funding the port.
Mr Khan told the FE: "The PM is interested in investment from several countries or agencies instead of depending on one investor."
Officials said Bangladesh's ports have become very important for South Asian regional connectivity. So, many countries are interested to invest in this sector for good and quick return.
The country's two sea ports - Chittagong and Mongla - are likely to see a good rise in container handling once neighbouring India is granted transit and transhipment for carrying cargoes to its 'Seven Sisters' states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.
Alongside India, other countries like Nepal and Bhutan are also interested to enjoy the similar facilities for facilitating their external trade.
In 2006, Japanese firm PCI first conducted a feasibility study for construction of the proposed deep seaport. The seaport at the first stage will have five international-standard jetties with a yearly capacity of handling 704.01 million tonnes of containers. The cost was then estimated at Tk 600 billion.
Financial Express :: Financial Newspaper of Bangladesh
@eastwatch @UKBengali @saleen_s7
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