Dhaka: Shipping, Labour and Employment Adviser Brig. Gen. (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain today urged the non-resident Singaporean High Commissioner to Bangladesh Derek Loh to invest in developing port infrastructure and the shipping industry in the country. The adviser made this request when the high commissioner paid a courtesy call on him at his secretariat office here.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, during the meeting, the adviser briefed the high commissioner on various development projects undertaken by the ministry and sought cooperation in the construction of port infrastructure, along with exchanging managerial experiences and technical assistance from Singapore. He encouraged the high commissioner to consider investing in the country’s ports, including constructing a Bay terminal, a shipyard in Matarbari Deep Sea Port, and the modernization of Mongla Sea Port.
The adviser highlighted that the World Bank has sanctioned $65 million for constructing the Bay Terminal in Chottogram Port, noting th
at the global competitiveness of Bangladesh would be enhanced upon the project’s completion. He also mentioned the government’s plan to build an internationally standard shipyard or dockyard at Matarbari Deep Sea Port.
Both parties expressed satisfaction over the commencement of a free trade agreement, which is expected to enhance the existing economic relations between the two countries. Present at the meeting were Senior Secretary to the Shipping Ministry Mohammad Yousuf and other senior officials of the ministry.