--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$24.45b deals
Two countries put it on paper
Rejaul Karim Byron and Md Fazlur Rahman
Bangladesh is set to receive $24.45 billion in bilateral assistance from China for 34 projects and programmes, as the two countries look to take their economic ties to a new height.
This is the largest bilateral financial assistance for Bangladesh since independence, and it is aimed at helping the country further develop its infrastructure.
The two sides yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening investment and production capacity cooperation.
The MoU includes a list of 28 projects for which Dhaka would get $21.5 billion from Beijing in financial assistance, according to Bangladesh's Economic Relations Division (ERD).
The two sides also inked two loan agreements involving $464 million, and another loan deal under which China will provide Bangladesh $1.9 billion for a coal-fired power plant near Payra port in Patuakhali.
Besides, Beijing will give $583 million in financial assistance under three cooperation programmes.
http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/2445b-deals-1298929
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sino-Bangla Venture: 13 companies to invest $13.6b
Staff Correspondent
Thirteen Bangladeshi entities and the same number of Chinese companies yesterday signed 13 joint venture agreements involving $13.6 billion to increase bilateral trade between the two countries.
Under the agreements, Chinese investors will invest in infrastructures, power, railways, sports and special economic zone, said Sun Xiao, a deputy director general of China Chamber of International Commerce.
Of the Bangladeshi bodies, 11 are private companies including Beximco Group and Meghna Group. The other two are the Ministry of Youth and Sports and state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board.
On the Chinese side, around eight are state-owned and the rest are from the private sector, Xiao said at a media briefing after the signing ceremony at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.
Under one of the agreements, a Chinese construction company will build a cricket stadium at Cox's Bazar while Beximco and Meghna signed deals for power generation.
“The 13 agreements are different from the other agreements signed over the last two days before and during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bangladesh,” Xiao said after a forum meeting among the Bangladeshi and Chinese businessmen.
http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/sino-bangla-venture-13-companies-invest-136b-1298926
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So the final tally as it stands ($24.45 + $13.6) BIL = $38.06 BILLION
Obviously more details to be worked out - but, the figures stating $40Bil weren't too far off the mark.