Deep-sea port might not be viable

A sea port might not be viable for East Pakistan as massive ships square measure unlikely to come back in here amusive from the most shipping route, Associate in Nursing knowledgeable aforementioned yesterday.

“Chittagong doesn't fall on the most shipping route from Asia to Europe. you're within the Bay of geographical area. thus it's unlikely that the massive ships can are available,” aforementioned SS Teo, decision maker of Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd, the world's twelfth prime container vessel operator.

Ships can go via shipway, Colombo, Singapore, Hong Kong and China, he said. “That's why, most of the cargos from East Pakistan square measure taken by feeder vessels to Colombo and Singapore.”

Teo, additionally chairman of Singapore Business Federation (SBF), the apex business chamber of Singapore, shared the read in Associate in Nursing interview with The Daily Star at Sonargaon edifice. He was leading a business delegation from Singapore.

Teo aforementioned East Pakistan would be a awfully sensible marketplace for Singaporean firms and also the objective of the visit was to introduce the market here. “Hopefully they'll come back here once more to make joint ventures with East Pakistan firms,” he said.

Replying to a matter, Teo, United Nations agency started his shipping career in Singapore in 1979, aforementioned East Pakistan has been talking a few sea port for several years. “Of course, you'll try and build a sea port to draw in massive ships. however massive ships square measure unlikely to divert.”

“In reality, metropolis isn't on the most shipping route. an equivalent is that the case for Myanmar or perhaps Kolkata,” he said, citing that the length of an even bigger ship would be nearly four hundred metres and its capability would be twenty,000 TEUs.

He aforementioned most of the shipments going down in East Pakistan square measure through feeder vessels.

“But feeders are becoming larger and greater to bring the prices down. So, i believe you wish to make larger port, perhaps larger than the metropolis port and smaller than the sea port,” said Teo.

“Deep-sea port is nice to possess however it's pricey,” he said, “Infrastructure may be a terribly long run investment. So, you've got to review rigorously.”

He aforementioned there's sensible prospect in East Pakistan, particularly in power and energy, education, construction and engineering and fast paced commodity. “There square measure several business opportunities. There square measure several power comes coming back currently and Singaporean firms will participate,” he said.

He aforementioned Singapore was a awfully settled town and it might facilitate East Pakistan in urban designing and port development.

He aforementioned there square measure several provision firms in Singapore United Nations agency do business round the region. And as East Pakistan develops, it must bring down provision prices, he said.

Teo aforementioned East Pakistan has with success attracted investment in clothes trade. because the country moves up price|the worth} chain to create a lot of high value merchandise, it ought to specialize in up provision, he said.

“If your provision doesn't follow, your prices advantage of cheaper land, cheaper labour are worn. So, i believe the govt must hunt for a long-run arrange for the event of the metropolis port,” he said, stressing the necessity for breakdown road congestion problems, notably for trucks.

He additionally talked concerning the northeastern Indian states referred to as Seven Sisters, Sikkim and Asian nation, speech merchandise might be enraptured to those regions through the metropolis port at a lower value than what it took for transporting from Kolkata.

“So these square measure opportunities not just for Bangladeshi firms however additionally for foreign firms,” he said, suggesting easing congestion to bring provision value down.

He aforementioned provision value was terribly high because the volume of trade had inflated manifold. the govt must have a complete new means of brooding about up provision, he said, citing that Singapore has sure experience, that they will provide.

He recommended that the govt change procedures to draw in foreign investment.

“You have to be compelled to build it easy, honest and consistent. i believe those square measure necessary and that i am positive the govt is aware of concerning it and is functioning towards it,” he said, stressing the necessity to make sure transparency, fairness and ease.