Some ten foreign companies have expressed their interests to fund building Paira port, the country's third sea port in Patuakhali district, officials said.
Of the proposals, nine came from China and one from Denmark.
Officials said as per a cabinet decision, the port will be constructed under government-to-government (G-to-G) arrangement.
The companies include Guizhou No. 2 Electric Power Construction Company, China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd, China Railway Construction Corporation Ltd, Sinohydro Harbour Co Ltd, China Communications Construction Company Ltd, China National Complete engineering Corporation, China CAMC Engineering Co Ltd, and Denmark-based APM Terminals.
A seven-member committee, headed by the joint secretary of Paira Port Authority (PPA), has been scrutinising the proposals to find the suitable one.
The committee, however, will receive proposals from interested foreign companies until mid-March and will submit a report by mid-April to the shipping ministry.
The committee has been asked to take into consideration technical capability, prior experience in port construction, and international rating of interested companies.
Member of the Paira Port Authority (PPA) Saidur Rahman told the FE that of ten proposals, four have been short-listed until now.
"After a thorough scrutiny, the committee will put forward the name of one company. The government will then sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with it for construction of the port," he said.
Officials said the Chinese companies in their proposals stated that they would arrange 'buyers' credit' to fund construction of the port.
Expressing interest to sign a MoU with the shipping ministry, the APM Terminals said it has already obtained initial support from the Danish government to participate in the project construction. It will arrange fund from the Danish government-linked funding institutions like EKF (Danish Export Credit Agency), and IFU (Investment Fund for Developing Countries).
Months back, the government listed the Paira port as a fast-track project to expedite its construction since it was the election pledge of the present government, said an official of the ministry of shipping.
The PPA recently appointed a British consultant for conducting feasibility study on the port. A preliminary development project proposal (PDPP) is under preparation with the help of the consulting firm.
syful-islam@outlook.com
Nine Chinese companies keen to build Paira port with buyers\\\' credit
Syful Islam | Published: March 28, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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